PLEASE READ ENTIRE NOTICE! The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) has interest in, and is seeking information regarding the capability to supply paper suitable as distinctive and non-distinctive currency paper and/or various security papers. The BEP is pleased to announce the issuance of draft specification for Distinctive Currency Paper for industry comment. Copies of the draft specifications are available upon written request to the point of contact listed below. Interested suppliers are required to submit a letter of intent and request a copy of the draft specifications. Interested supplies' letter(s) of intent will be accepted during the open period of this sources sought; however, please be advised that release of the specification may take up to one week for processing. As a part of extensive market research, BEP encourages industry and interested suppliers to submit questions or comments regarding the draft specification and/or suggestions to improve the upcoming anticipated solicitation to promote competition and stimulate response from prospective offerors. Comments/ questions should be submitted within thirty (30) days from the date of this notice. Letter of Intent and Request for Specifications (e.g. Type I, Type IV and/or Type V Distinctive Currency Paper, Safety Paper, Type I, Type IV, and/or Type V Non-Distinctive Banknote Paper) response to this Notice should at a minimum include the following: 1. Information regarding capabilities for planning purposes; 2. Literature demonstrating the Respondents capability to supply distinctive and non-distinctive currency paper and various other security papers. 3. Respondent's DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code; and 4. Respondent's technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. The point of contact for this Notice is: Kathleen Barton, Contract Specialist via email at
[email protected] or by telephone at (202)874-3139. Email responses to this Notice shall be sent to the attention of individual listed above. Due date for responses are no later than April 8, 2014. Thereafter the Bureau anticipates issuing a full and open indefinite delivery type solicitation, which incorporates the responses to the industry questions, comments, and concerns, to be issued on or about July 1, 2014. Offerors will be required to submit material samples of production ready material for BEP testing and evaluation with their proposals. BEP anticipates a period of performance for 5 years from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020. However, BEP is interested in developing an alternate source and therefore BEP will consider extending to longer than a 5 year term if capable alternative source(s) is(are) identified that can submit a proposal including a material sample for at least any of the following: Type I Distinctive Currency paper, Type I Non-Distinctive Banknote paper, and/or Safety paper. Interested suppliers are advised that Public Law 100-440, Title VI 617(a) requires that a contract for the manufacture of distinctive currency paper for United States (U.S.) currency may not be awarded to any corporation or entity owned or controlled by persons who are not citizens of the U.S., nor may distinctive paper for U.S. currency be manufactured outside of the U.S. For purposes of award of a contract, a corporation or other entity is presumed to be owned or controlled by citizens of the U.S. when domestic ownership or control constitutes at least 90%. 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. It is the BEP's intent to periodically update this notice as Government requirements are finalized and to incorporate industry comments and concerns as appropriate. Interested parties may register on FedBizOpps for electronic notification of updates to this notice. All interested parties may contact Kathleen Barton, Contract Specialist on (202)874-3139 or by email at
[email protected] for further information.