Near-market distinctive counterfeit deterrent technologies

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. Respondents are advised that the U.S. 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 parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any trade secrets and commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential contained within their response. The U.S. Government will neither be liable for nor suffer any consequential damages resulting from any commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential not properly marked and clearly identified. Information received in response to this Notice will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable statutes, including the Freedom of Information Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) policy. Respondents may execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Engraving & Printing (BEP) (see attached for an example of an NDA). Federal law and BEP's regulation require the use of distinctive paper and distinctive counterfeit deterrents for Federal Reserve notes (FRNs). 5 U.S.C. - 301; 12 U.S.C. - 418; 18 U.S.C. - 474A; 31 C.F.R. Part 601. The BEP is interested in obtaining, testing, and evaluating near-market distinctive counterfeit deterrent technologies that may be incorporated into (inks, substrate) or applied to future generations of FRNs. The desired near-market distinctive counterfeit deterrent technologies are overt, visual authentication security feature(s) that shall: 1) Be licensed to BEP exclusively. Other terms and conditions of the license may be negotiated; 2) Not be in commercial use or in the public domain in the global market; 3) Have an established proof of concept; 4) Not require Federal government funded Research & Development; 5) Provide effective counterfeit deterrence against all types of threats, including traditional printing as well as digital reproduction; 6) Be extremely difficult to simulate or duplicate, but easy to authenticate by the public; 7) Be destroyed, if attempted to be harvested; and 8) Be durable to last the life of the note. SUBMISSIONS: Near-market distinctive counterfeit deterrent technologies submitted for consideration will be reviewed for inherent and relative effectiveness as an overt, visual authentication security feature(s), and may be further assessed for compatibility with design and production factors, durability, environmental acceptability, and other processing requirements. For initial screening purposes, interested Respondents shall submit a brief response (5 pages or less) providing: - A brief technical description of the counterfeit deterrent technology proposed as an overt, visual authentication security feature, including an assessment of its Technology Readiness Level (e.g., Development Stage or Production Readiness); - An assessment of the technology's uniqueness; - Confirmation of willingness to license the technology exclusively to the BEP, and not be in commercial use or in the public domain in the global market; - Description of relevant technology marketing activities; and - *Optional: Please denote any ISO certification(s). The BEP reserves the right to request additional information and/or an exemplar of the proposed counterfeit deterrent technology for further assessment of the brief response submitted as part of this Notice. The BEP may submit proposed counterfeit deterrent technologies under this Notice to outside technical experts (e.g. National Labs) under Government contracts for further evaluation. Upon request, the Respondents may be given the opportunity to meet with BEP and its stakeholders to discuss the proposed counterfeit deterrent technologies prior to submission of a brief response under this Notice. Previously submitted technologies need not be resubmitted. The point of contact for this Notice is: Andrew Martin Bureau of Engraving & Printing Office of Acquisition 14th and C Streets, SW Washington, D.C. 20228 Andrew.Martin@bep.gov Phone: 202-874-1695 Brief responses to this Notice shall be sent via email to the point of contact listed above by no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, April 30, 2018. This Notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. All costs associated with responding to this Notice are solely at the responding party's expense. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Further, the Government may contact the vendor for additional information regarding the information submitted as part of this market research effort. Any organization responding to this Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. 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. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). If so, respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and identifying such information within their response.