High-Security Customized Check Stock

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is soliciting proposals for the production and delivery of high-security customized check stock under solicitation number 304-27-1701RG, with proposals due by June 1, 2026. The contract requires the manufacture of check stock featuring advanced security elements including phantom images of the Texas Capitol, microprinting, watermarking, MICR bands, chemically reactive paper, and sequentially numbered control sheets, all produced exclusively within the continental United States. Deliveries must be made to the CPA’s facility in Austin, Texas, under FOB destination terms, with title and risk of loss transferring only upon arrival at the receiving dock. Each shipment must be meticulously packaged in reams of 500 sheets, shrink-wrapped and grouped into cartons of five reams, palletized in configurations of 32 cartons, and secured with heavy-duty zip ties and shrink-wrap, with labeling requirements ensuring traceability from the individual sheet level through to the pallet. All materials must remain sealed and protected from moisture, tampering, and contamination during transit, and must be shipped exclusively in CPA-dedicated trailers. The evaluation of proposals will prioritize cost at 35%, followed by quality and security features (20%), past performance and experience (20%), security and chain-of-custody measures (15%), and quality control processes (10%), indicating a trade-off approach rather than a simple lowest-price determination. Respondents must submit a completed HUB Subcontracting Plan, with specific goals of 21.1% for commodities, and may be required to provide either Method A or Method B documentation based on their subcontracting approach, including evidence of good faith efforts if goals are not fully met. The contract includes an initial one-year term beginning September 1, 2026, with four optional one-year extension periods through August 31, 2031, contingent on CPA discretion. Contractors must comply with Texas Prompt Payment Act requirements, avoid unauthorized subcontracting without prior approval, and adhere to environmental material preferences for recycled or energy-efficient products where feasible. Proposals must be submitted electronically by the deadline with required signatures and forms, including Unique Entity ID, conflict of interest disclosures, and any necessary attestations, particularly for HUB certification or disclosures related to criminal history, foreign ownership, or legal proceedings. Failure to comply with procedural or substantive requirements, including packaging, labeling, or HUB compliance, will result in proposal rejection.