Currency Inks

I. PURPOSE: The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is seeking sources with the capabilities to supply various types of production inks such as Dry Offset, Metallic, IR Transparent Intaglio, OVI Color Shifting, Typographic Cope and Sheet-fed Intaglio Inks. From this notice, the BEP is interested in determining potential sources for ink manufacturing with potential use in printing U.S. paper currency or other BEP printed secure documents. Specifications for these materials are available upon written request to the Point of Contact listed below. Companies requesting specifications may be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Statement (NDA) before receipt of specifications. This Source Sought Notice (hereinafter Notice) is for information and planning purposes only and is 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 (Request for Proposal, Request for Quotation or Invitation for Bid) or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This Notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Companies responding to this Notice are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice are solely at the responding party's expense. Companies responding to this Notice 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 or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this Notice 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 Notice. Responses to the Notice will not be returned. Not responding to this Notice does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. II. Submission Requirements: Responses to the Notice shall include the following: a. General: - Company Name - Street Address, City, State, and Zip Code - Point of Contact (POC) for both technical and non-technical questions along with their specific contact information (e.g. phone, e-mail, fax). b. Specific Capability and Technical/Product Information: A discussion of the company's capability to supply various types of inks. Technical/Product information (e.g. literature, documentation, etc) for each type of ink in which the company is capable of supplying. c. General pricing: Cost is a consideration; therefore the BEP is seeking to obtain general pricing regarding the type of ink for which the company is capable of supplying. d. Delivery information: Delivery information regarding the type of ink for which the company is capable of supplying. e. Performance Information/Customer list: Performance Information is of consideration as well, as the BEP moves forward with identifying potential sources of supply. Therefore, Respondants are to provide a reference list of customers currently using the type of ink for which the company is capable of supplying. The BEP reserves the right to contact these reference to obtain information about the company's performance regarding the type of ink for which the company is capable of supplying The BEP reserves the right to request from companies responding to this Notice additional information as well as to request ink samples. Any ink samples requested by the BEP and submitted by the company will be reviewed and evaluated for inherent and relative effectiveness as production inks in terms of meeting BEP requirement for such inks, and may be further assessed for compatibility with design and production factors, durability, environmental acceptability, and other production/processing requirements. However, in these cases, companies are cautioned that any such review evaluation, assessment and testing will be scheduled based on the availability of resources. In such instances, the BEP will only consider ink samples, for which at least laboratory feasibility has already been demonstrated (i.e., means a proven concept, can provide a sample). The BEP reserves the right not to release ink sample evaluation, assessment or test results. III. POINT OF CONTACT INFORMATION: Interested parties shall send their response to this Notice to the attention of Richard Hutchinson, Contract Specialist via one of the following methods: Post: Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Acquisition, Room 705-A 14th and C Streets SW Washington, DC 20228-0001 Fax: (202)-874-2200 E-mail: richard.hutchinson@bep.gov IV: RESPONSE DATE: Interested parties are requested to respond to this Notice no later than 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time April 15, 2011. The BEP reserves the right to extend this Notice.