Department of Treasury (DY), Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Office of Procurement, 14th & C Sts., S. W., 708-A, Washington, D. C. 20228

36 -- OFFLINE CURRENCY INSPECTION SYSTEM SOL BEP-97-03(N) DUE 120296 POC Contact Tina B. McGuire, Contract Specialist, 202/874-2451. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) intends to negotiate a firm fixed-price contract for a commercially available Offline Currency Inspection System (including all hardware and software) for offline inspection of United States Currency (denominations $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100). The BEP requires a system that will have the capability to electronically identify currency which does not meet the BEP's quality standards, The system must control the operation of the BEP's existing Processing Equipment to direct acceptable and unacceptable currency into separate piles. Types of Flaws: The system shall detect printing and non-printing flaws on the printed sheet. In addition, the system shall also evaluate the registration of the printed image in relation to the security thread and watermark used on the higher currency denominations. Flaw Detection Requirements: A currency sheet has an area of approximately 0.338 meters square. The system shall evaluate the quality of print and counterfeit deterrent features according to the following requirements: 1) Ink Over Abundance Flaw Sensitivity. The system shall detect an increase in ink density from 10% to 100% based on the opaque area of a screen containig 150 lines per inch and the presence of 10% to 100% dense flaws in printed and non-printed areas 0.762mm x 0.762mm square and greater; 2) Ink Deficiency Flaw Sensitivity. At a minimum, the system shall detect an ink void that is 0.762mm x 0.762mm square; 3) Material Flaw Sensitivity. The system shall detect and reject sheets containing a crease in excess of 2.54mm wide x 5mm long and a hole with a diameter in excess of 1.3mm; 4) Print to Paper Registration Sensitivity. After the sheet has been trimmed and split, the system shall detect variations in the distance between the sheet edge and the printed face image; 5) Back Print to Face Print Registration Sensitivity. The system shall detect a change in back print to face print registration at a minimum of two locations on each half-sheet; and 6) Counterfeit Deterrent Inspection. The minimum detection requirements for inspection of the counterfeit deterrent features are: 1) security thread; 2) watermark; 3) fine line patterns and micro lettering; and 4) color shifting ink. Production Rate. At a mimimum, the rate of inspection and processing shall be performed on up to 7,000 sheets per hour (approximately 2 sheets/second). Options for up to 12 additional Inspection Systems shall be included in the solicitation. To satisfy the stated requirement, the prospective offeror may propose to integrate their inspection system to the BEP's existing sheet feeder, transport and stacking equipment, or may propose as an alternative, the entire inspection system. Requests for the solicitation may also be telefaxed to (202) 874-2200. Indicate company name, address, business size (i.e., Large, Small, Minority, or Women-Owned), and solicitation number on requests. All responsible sources may submit an offer which will be considered. (0268)

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