Nickel Plated Zinc 5-Cent Blanks

The U.S. Mint (Department of the Treasury) is conducting a sources sought market research effort to identify qualified contractors capable of producing nickel-plated zinc 5-cent blanks, with responses due by 12:00 PM Eastern on October 16, 2026. This is not a solicitation, RFQ, or RFP; it is a pre-solicitation notice for informational and planning purposes only. Procurement of goods and services for U.S. Mint programs operates under 31 U.S.C. 5136 and is exempt from federal procurement law provisions.

The Mint seeks suppliers capable of manufacturing blanks composed of nickel-plated zinc authorized under the Common Sense Act to reduce production costs while minimizing adverse impacts on coin-accepting machines. Respondents must demonstrate production capabilities including manufacturing location, facility capacity, supply chain logistics with lead times and order volumes, and compliance with the Buy America Act, Trade Agreements Act, and OFAC regulations. Suppliers must describe plating and surface treatment processes that achieve uniform nickel coverage with adhesion capable of withstanding cold forging and metal stamping, and any protective coatings or lubrication treatments that enhance die life and tarnish resistance. Quality assurance capabilities must include production of blanks free from visible defects and in-house or third-party testing for blank geometry, material properties, nickel layer adhesion strength, protective layer thickness, tarnish resistance, and surface lubricity. Suppliers must support phased testing beginning with pilot testing (hundreds to thousands of pieces), progressing to pre-production trials (thousands to 1 million pieces), and ultimately large-scale production validation (over 1 million pieces) at Philadelphia and Denver facilities.

NAICS code 33299 applies, with business size standard of 750 employees. No set-aside is used. Interested parties should submit company name, address, DUNS number, CAGE code, point of contact information, SAM.gov registration status, business size, and capability summary to Andrew Redfern at aredfern@usmint.treas.gov.