RFQ 1637 - Bank Note Paper

The County of San Mateo is seeking competitive quotations for specialized bank note paper through RFQ 1637, with proposals due on October 8, 2025. The procurement focuses on acquiring highly secure specialty paper designed for vital records documents with advanced anti-counterfeiting and anti-fraud features. Vendors must provide comprehensive paper specifications that include complex security elements such as two-tone Fourdrinier watermarks, embedded security fibers that fluoresce under ultraviolet light, and chemically reactive surfaces that reveal tampering attempts. The evaluation criteria will prioritize cost, product conformity to specifications, and overall product availability. Potential vendors must submit a completed Pricing Bid Table in section 3, include competitive quotations with accurate lead times, and provide detailed information about freight and delivery costs. The county intends to issue a purchase order to the lowest, responsive bid from a qualified, responsible manufacturer or publisher-authorized vendor.

While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned in the documentation, the procurement appears to be open to qualified manufacturers and vendors capable of meeting the stringent technical specifications for secure document paper. The proposed paper must incorporate sophisticated security technologies, including engraved intaglio printing, hidden latent images, micro-printed lines, watermarks, security fibers, prismatic color printing, sequential numbering, barcoding, erasure-sensitive inks, and laser toner retention technology. Although no specific budget range is provided, the technical complexity and specialized nature of the paper suggest a potentially significant investment in document security infrastructure. The procurement process indicates that the county is seeking a vendor with advanced manufacturing capabilities and expertise in creating high-security paper products designed to prevent unauthorized reproduction, alteration, or forgery of official vital record documents.