RFI - R&D currency paper labs services

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes only and it 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 or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to 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, or suffer any consequential damages for 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 Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) will not be obligated to pursue any particular 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. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is seeking information about vendors with the capability to test physical and visual characteristics of United States currency paper. The vendor would conduct work at its facility on their equipment or provide qualified personnel to work at the BEP's facilities in Washington, DC and/or Fort Worth, Texas. The following note is provided as an indicator of the probable security requirements that would be required for work to be conducted at the vendor's facility: a Security Plan and an Accountability Plan would need to be established and approved by the BEP's Office of Security. These documents would need to provide details on 1) how the vendor would limit access; 2) how securities, e.g., any currency paper sheets and test specimens would be secured; 3) the surveillance system to monitor the securities; 4) how access would be controlled including schematics and floor plans; 5) how all equipment and testing of BEP securities would be shielded from public view; and 6) how personnel would be evaluated for security. Furthermore, instrument and data computers could not be connected to an outside network unless authorized by the BEP's Office of Security. An Accountability Plan would include, at a minimum, requirements for (a) maintaining identification and traceability of samples; (b) conducting a physical inventory at the beginning of every month; and (c) sample disposition, such as either returning the samples to the BEP or establishing approved destruction and accountability procedures. Properties of interest may include sheet dimensions and angular squareness, tensile properties, folding endurance, thickness, grammage, smoothness, permeability (porosity), burst strength, brightness, fluorescence, initiated tear (Elmendorf), bending resistance, hygroexpansivity, reflectance spectra, and color measurements of the paper samples. Testing must occur under conditions controlled for temperature and humidity to conform with Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) T 402,"Standard Conditioning and Testing Atmosphere for Paper, Board, Pulp Handsheets and Related Products." A quality assurance program for the calibration and/or verification of equipment to comply with ISO 9001 requirements is needed. Testing would have to be done within specified timeframes and the test results need to be certified. In one page document (Word/Windows compatible) or less, provide a general overview of your company's products, services, experience, and capabilities and indicate whether you are responding for the work to be conducted at your company's facilities or at the BEP. Provide information on the equipment that would be used for specific tests. If your company is interested in receiving our Request for Proposal (RFP) should we issue one for this effort, please include contact information for your company. All sources may submit a response that will be considered by the Government. This market survey is for information and planning purposes only, does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Include in your response your company name, contact information, web site, email address, telephone number, and buisness size classification. Submit information to: Kathleen Reidy, Contract Specialist, via emailed attachment to Kathleen.Reidy@bep.gov. Possible NAICS Code(s): 541380 Laboratory Testing (except medical, veterinary services) 323 Printing and Related Support Activities 339999 All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing