Research and Development RFI for Hidden Machine-Readable Security Features

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes only and it should not 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 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 emerging 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 that are not otherwise in commercial use or the public domain. Proposed features may become distinctive counterfeit deterrents incorporated into the banknote or applied to the notes. 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 5. When fully-developed, compatible with high-speed cash processing systems As a concept, the hidden machine-readable feature should be considered a total system of: A. distinctive feature materials (incorporated into the banknote) which should be novel; AND B. customized sensor devices, which are NOT commercially-available. 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. For initial screening purposes, interested parties are requested to submit the following items to the BEP Research and Development Technical Lead: Division Manager Chris Dollberg: Bureau of Engraving & Printing Office of the Technology & Development Security Features Division Attn: Chris Dollberg 301 14th Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20228-0001 The Bureau may submit offered technologies to outside technical experts under government contracts for their evaluation subject to the approval of the submitting party. Previously submitted materials or technologies need not be resubmitted. Email responses to this Notice shall be sent to the attention of Callie Williams, Callie.Williams@BEP.Gov and Falcon Albino, Falcon.Albino@BEP.Gov. Respondents are requested to submit the capability statements no later than 2:00 PM Eastern Time, June 14, 2024. 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 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.