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This is a Sources Sought Notice. This is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, requests 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 contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, transportation, tools, materials, and supervision necessary to provide for the design, fabrication, assembly, integration, delivery, installation, set-up, testing and training to place into operation one (1) Hot Foil (HF) Machine as defined below. The contractor shall perform to the standards of the contract.

With the information provided below, please e-mail a capabilities statement to claudette.barbee@bep.gov. Please ensure the vendor’s cage code and Unique Entity ID from its System for Award Management (SAM) registration is included in the capability statement.

NOTE:

(1) Effective Oct 1, 2022 new table of size standards has been released by the SBA. NAICS 333244 Printing Equipment & Machinery Manufacturing has been eliminated and combined with 333248 All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing.

(2) Place of Performance: Also includes BEP-Washington DE Currency Facility, Beltsville, MD

HOT FOIL MACHINE REQUIREMENTS

The contractor shall provide for the design, fabrication, assembly, integration, delivery, installation, set-up, testing and training to place into operation one (1) Hot Foil (HF) Machine that will apply an advanced counterfeit deterrent feature(s) onto future currency designs. Options for additional HF Machines, ability to die-cut and laminate a stripe over the holes, adhesive curing system with chill roller, spare parts, and for the contractor to provide testing and demonstrate materials are included.ot Foil (HF) MachineH

The Hot Foil Machine shall use Hot Stamp application methodology and have the ability to:

1. Feed sheets from a pile in register.


2. Have an optional ability to die-cut holes into the sheets in registration onto each note location.


3. Feed films from spools in register for placement onto the sheets.


4. Apply a patch, stripe or optionally laminate onto the sheets in registration onto each note location.


5. Respool backing material and any foils not applied, and shred/briquette backing material and any foils not applied.


6. Have an optional ability to cure the adhesive on patches, stripes or laminates applied.


7. Inspect and sort sheets for presence and registration.


8. Deliver sheets into one of four (4) deliveries, sorting sheets into acceptable, unacceptable but reclaimable, and non-reclaimable.


9. Provide a console with User Interface (UI) for press operation and monitoring.


10. Capture data from the press of various file formats (database, structured and unstructured files).

The BEP is presently working with several material vendors, so the specific material to be applied and the future currency designs are unknown at this time. The Hot Foil Machine shall offer the maximum flexibility and capability to the BEP to apply unique counterfeit deterrent features onto future currency designs.

SUPPORT MATERIALS AND SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide for the design, fabrication, assembly, integration, delivery, installation, set-up, testing and training to place into operation one (1) Hot Foil (HF) Machine.

DOCUMENTS

Equipment to be delivered under this contract shall meet all current U.S. commercial codes and industrial standards, or equally stringent international standards, for manufacturing of high-quality industrial equipment, commercial printing presses and finishing equipment to be utilized within an industry environment. At a minimum, all equipment shall conform to National Electric Code, NEC, standards.

The following is a listing of specific standards that the press shall meet:

• All applicable sections of American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (www.acgih.org)


• All applicable documents related to Energy Policy Act of 1992 with specific reference to Executive Order 13123 (www.omb.gov)


• All applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards with specific references to OSHA standards 29 CFR 1910 (www.osha.gov)


• All applicable codes and standards and environmental permitting of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (www.epa.gov) and District of Columbia (DC) government (www.doee.dc.gov) and State of Texas (TX) government (www.tceq.texas.gov).

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS (Minimum Mandatory Element)

All equipment delivered to the BEP shall be designed to minimize all risks of injury to BEP employees. All equipment shall be in full compliance with government and commercial safety and health regulations and requirements.

All services to be performed on-site within the BEP shall be performed in a manner consistent with the BEP’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policy and applicable EHS laws, regulations and other applicable requirements.

(1) General Safety:

Equipment shall be designed to prevent injury to operation and maintenance personnel at all times. It shall be equipped with service access equipment; such as catwalks, access platforms, access ladders, lifts, and other equipment for operation and maintenance. All catwalks, access platforms, access ladders, lifts, hoists, and any other equipment that are furnished, shall be built and tested to comply with the applicable American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and/or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards including OSHA 29 CFR Subpart D.

(2) Noise Level:

The maximum noise produced by the operation of the equipment at full production rate shall not exceed 85 decibels A-weighted sound level (85 dBA) when measured at 914 mm (3 feet) distance along the plan view of the equipment and at an elevation of 1,524 mm (5 feet). If the requirement cannot be met, the vendor shall meet with the CO, an EHS representative, and the CO's team to discuss all alternatives including required PPE to operate the machine safely. Exceptions may be granted if the equipment does not require an operator to be present for continuous operation.

(3) Machine Guarding:

All hazardous mechanical motions and actions shall be guarded as specified by OSHA 29 CFR Subpart O and all furnished safeguards shall be designed, built, and tested in accordance with ANSI B.11 or ANSI B.65 standards. Machine safeguards must prevent hands, arms, or any other part of a workers body from making contact with dangerous moving parts. All covers and safety guards shall be firmly affixed to the machine or otherwise interlocked with the equipment’s function controls to prevent its operation while any cover or guard is open or absent. Covers and guards shall be easy to remove by BEP authorized maintenance personnel to facilitate the removal of mechanical and electrical parts for repair.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS (Minimum Mandatory Element)

The Contractor shall comply with all policies, regulations, requirements and instructions from the Bureau’s Office of Security. In addition to those requirements within section H, the contractor shall:

(A) Non-Disclosure Agreement

The Contractor shall sign and have notarized a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to the Government’s release of proprietary and/or sensitive information. The NDA will cover all work to be performed under this contract and shall apply to all contractor personnel as well as any subcontractors.

(B) Safeguarding Government Furnished Materials:

Under the performance of the installation and testing of the HF Machine, the BEP will provide Government Furnished Materials that are considered items of security. The contractor shall abide by all requirements and instructions of the BEP’s Office of Security during the performance of this contract.

ON-SITE SERVICES (Minimum Mandatory Element)

All services to be performed on-site within the BEP shall be performed in a manner consistent with the BEP’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policy and applicable EHS laws, regulations and other applicable requirements.

SPARE PARTS LISTING

A listing of all parts that the vendor recommends the BEP carry in stock to support the 24-hour operation of the Hot Foil Machine shall be provided no later than eight weeks prior to the 4th design review meeting. Vendor shall recommend quantity of spare parts based on normal operation and life expectancy of subsystems. The listing shall be provided in MS-Excel format. The listing shall include the manufacturer’s part number, detail description of the part, function, lead time for delivery, estimated mean time for failure/maintenance, recommended quantity, and unit price. Parts that are common to other production machinery made by the vendor shall be identified on the spare parts listing.

Proprietary spare parts shall be identified on the spare parts listing. Proprietary is defined within the Merriam Webster Dictionary as: (i) used, made, or sold only by the particular person or company that has the legal right to do so, (ii) something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker.

The BEP recognizes that the initial list may not be complete, as the design may not be final. The contractor shall provide any changes or additions to the original list prior to delivery of the equipment to the BEP.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

During the performance of this contract, the contractor shall coordinate with the BEP on the design, fabrication, assembly, testing, shipment, delivery, startup and acceptance of the system machinery and performance of all services, as well as provide the BEP with information on the status of the work being performed.

After delivery of the machinery to the BEP, the contractor’s project manager assigned to oversee the installation and testing of the machines shall be responsible for meeting with BEP personnel and making decisions on requests from the BEP. The project manager shall be available at all times while work is being performed within the facility.

The contract shall build into their schedule the following major milestones for the project:

Fabrication/Assembly

Shipment

Delivery/Installation

Startup/Pre-BAT

Training

Commissioning

1 month Extended Run

Project Review Meetings: During the performance of this project, the Bureau and the Contractor shall hold Project Review Meetings to review the status of the project including schedule and fabrication of Hot Foil Machine and supporting equipment, coordination for site preparation, delivery, installation, training and any other deliverable to occur under this project. It is anticipated that up to two (2) Project Review Meetings shall need to occur during the performance of the base contract for the delivery of the Hot Foil Machine. The review meetings shall be a the BEP facility or by teleconference.

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