Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The BEP will not be obligated to pursue any particular acquisition alternative as a result of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued.
The U. S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating technologies and/or materials with potential application in overt, visual authentication features on future generations of U. S. currency. Technologies offered should provide effective counterfeit deterrence against all types of threats including traditional printing as well as digital reproduction. Proposed counterfeit deterrent features may be incorporated into the banknote (inks, substrate) or applied to the note, and should not require the use of any external device for verification. An effective overt feature should be extremely difficult to simulate or duplicate, but should be easy to authenticate by the public under most lighting conditions.
Technologies and/or materials submitted for consideration will be reviewed for inherent and relative effectiveness as a security feature, and may be further assessed for compatibility with design and production factors, durability, environmental acceptability, and other processing requirements.
The Bureau will only consider technologies, materials, and detection systems for which at least laboratory feasibility has already been demonstrated (i.e. concept proven, lab prototypes or samples available). For initial screening purposes, interested parties are requested to submit preliminary samples and a brief technical description to:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Office of Acquisitions
Attn: Kathleen Barton
14th and C Streets, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20228-0001
The Bureau may submit offered technologies to outside technical experts under government contracts for their evaluation subject to the approval of the submitting party. Previously submitted materials or technologies need not be resubmitted. If you have any questions please contact Kathleen Barton via e-mail at [email protected]
Companies are requested to submit the aforementioned Capability Statement to the point of contact identified below by no later than 2:00PM Eastern Time March 28, 2014.