Sources Sought for Hidden Machine Readable Security
This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes only and it should not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to a contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for nor suffer any consequential damages resulting from any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations.
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.
To reiterate, this is a Request for Information (RFI) (hereinafter Notice). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, request for bids or quotations, nor, a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain knowledge and information for project planning purposes only
The U. S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating novel technologies and/or materials with potential application as hidden machine-readable counterfeit deterrent / authenticating features on future generations of U. S. currency. Proposed counterfeit deterrent feature / system should be novel and not commercially available. Proposed features may be incorporated into the banknote or applied to the note. An effective hidden machine-readable feature should be:
1. difficult to discover on a banknote even by subject matter experts
2. difficult to elucidate the functionality or detection mechanism of the feature
3. readable by a highly discriminating standalone detection system
4. resistant to simulation or duplication, both in terms of material and response
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:
Marc A. Curry, Contract Specialist II, Phone 2028740081, Email marc.curry@bep.gov - Antonio Sixon, Contracting Officer, Email antonio.sixon@bep.gov
