Currency and Other Security Inks 2022

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This is not a request for quotations or an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation, but merely notification of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) intent to issue, on a sole-source basis, a firm fixed-price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to SICPA SECURINK, Corp. (SICPA). BEP will award sole source, firm-fixed price IDIQ with SICPA for specialized currency and security inks (herein inks) manufactured to meet BEP specifications. The period of performance is anticipated from 07/24/2022 - 07/23/2027.

Under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 16.505(b)(2)(ii)(B), when supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source and no other type of supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, full and open competition need not be provided. The inks to be supplied under this requirement include, but are not limited to, the following categories: Offset Flexographic Inks, Metallic Inks, Infrared-Transparent and Infrared-Opaque Intaglio Inks, and Color shifting Intaglio inks. These inks are used by the BEP in the manufacture of U.S. currency banknotes and other U.S. security products at BEP facilities.

The BEP currently uses more than 34 different inks in the manufacture of US Currency, including 22 different colors of offset ink. The BEP requires specific ink types and colors for printing currency and other security documents to meet customer requirements. Among the several properties that have been specified for each of these inks in an effort to ensure their fitness for use in currency manufacture, the most significant of these are the ink color (in order to ensure a consistent visual appearance) and the spectral response (used to enable automated validation and acceptance in commerce). A change in the spectral response of any ink could lead to currency being rejected by automated validation and acceptance machines, which could cost the industry several hundred million dollars in updating and reprogramming to address.

While matching the color of over 30 inks would be very challenging even for an experienced ink manufacturer; matching spectral response requires a level of technology and experience that very few ink manufacturers have demonstrated. SICPA's inks have been tested by the BEP and approved to meet printing currency, security, and customer requirements. SICPA's inks provide a consistent visual appearance and the spectral response required for commerce.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government does not intend to pay for information provided in response to this notice. Written responses to this notice shall contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill this requirement. All responses shall be submitted via email to joseph.pishioneri@bep.gov by 5:00PM EST on January 7, 2021 and use the Reference no. 2031ZAB2200001.

If the Bureau does not receive an acceptable response to this announcement by the specified date, negotiations will be conducted with SICPA as the only source, and an IDIQ will be issued without any additional notices being posted.