IFB - 26-10055 Banknote Agreement Re-bid #1

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Contract & Procurement Section, issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 26-10055 to procure intaglio banknote security paper used for printing certified and informational copies of vital records including birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates. The solicitation seeks a single contract award to the most responsive and responsible firm offering the lowest cost. The required deliverable consists of single-sheet security paper measuring 8.5" by 11" incorporating genuine multi-tone fourdrinier watermarks, chemical sensitization, toner retention coating, intaglio steel plate printing, and additional security elements including microprint text, security fibers, fluorescent threads, prismatic undertints, and consecutive nine-digit numbering with corresponding barcodes. The contract requires a maximum of three deliveries per year for nine total deliveries over the three-year contract term (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029), with pricing established on a per-1,000-sheet-lot basis for an estimated quantity of 2,000 lots. Bidders must demonstrate six minimum qualifications including three years of experience within the past five years in transportation resources, multi-tone fourdrinier watermark utilization, chemical sensitization, toner retention coating, intaglio steel plate printing, and processing press runs exceeding 100,000 documents per batch. The IFB was released on March 3, 2026, with questions due by March 6, 2026; no questions were received by the deadline. Bids were due by March 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM (PT), with bid opening scheduled for March 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM (PT), and a Notice of Intent to Award posted on March 25, 2026.

This procurement includes optional incentives for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation ranging from 1 percent to 5 percent, with a combined maximum preference cap of 15 percent or $100,000, whichever is less, and Small Business certifications and preferences apply. Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA) consideration is available for qualifying applicants. All manufacturing, printing, and transporting must occur at a single production facility with comprehensive security measures including vault storage for approximately 100,000 documents for four to six months, 24-hour surveillance, dual-access entry requirements, and detailed quality control documentation. Commercial General Liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate is required, and CDPH reserves the right to have representatives present during all production runs. The Notice of Intent to Award indicates that Banknote Corporation of America (BCA) was selected as the lowest responsive bidder; dissatisfied bidders have five business days from the notice date to file an appeal. The total contract budget shall not exceed $825,000, with any bids exceeding this amount deemed non-responsive, and CDPH retains the right to extend the contract for one additional year or increase funding up to 30 percent of the original contract cost.