Notice of Intent to Sole Source CTIP-III Stainless Steel Upgrade

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing intends to award a sole source Firm Fixed Price contract to Koenig & Bauer (K&B) Banknote Solutions for the upgrade of stainless-steel plates compatible with the CTIP-III intaglio laser engraving machine at the Eastern Currency Facility. The plates are proprietary and exclusively available from K&B, justifying the sole source acquisition under FAR Subpart 6.302-1(a)(2)(ii)(b). The contract requires the contractor to provide all labor, parts, tools, and expertise to upgrade, calibrate, and test the CTIP-III system to enable seamless toggling between brass and stainless-steel engraving without significant recalibration or downtime. The stainless-steel plates must meet exacting specifications including dimensions of 1200mm H x 950mm W x 0.8mm thickness with a tolerance of ±10 microns, hardness of 160/170HV, and surface smoothness below 4µm Rz, accompanied by a Certificate of Conformance and Safety Data Sheet. The contractor must also deliver updated technical documentation, comprehensive hands-on training for BEP personnel, a service report, and a one-year warranty on all labor, parts, and materials, effective upon formal Government acceptance. The work will be performed at the BEP facility located at 301 14th Street SW, Washington, DC, with a 12-month period of performance from the award date. All shipments must be clearly marked for the Office of Engraving and include a packing list, with packaging designed to prevent transit damage. The contractor must comply with rigorous environmental, health, and safety standards including OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1026 for hexavalent chromium exposure, HEPA filtration at 99.97% efficiency, and the 75D-07.0-04 EHS Contractor Requirements. Contractor personnel will undergo background investigations by BEP’s Office of Personnel Security and must be escorted at all times within the Controlled Industrial Area. They are prohibited from creating or modifying federal policy, obligating government funds, or providing direct personal services to federal employees, in alignment with FAR Parts 7.5 and 37.1. A Contracting Officer Representative will be designated separately to oversee technical performance and compliance, though they lack authority to modify contract terms. The notice requires all responses, including capability statements or inquiries, be submitted via