Nickel "S" Pellets

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the procurement of Nickel Pellets (99.95% purity) for use in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) electroplating processes at their District of Columbia Facility (DCF) and Western Currency Facility (WCF). The BEP's primary customer is the Federal Reserve Board (FRB).

• Product: Nickel Anodes - Spherical Pellets (BEP Stock Item Number: ENG1300).

• Material Specifications:

  • Sulfur depolarized.
  • Silvery lustrous finish.
  • Indefinite shelf life.
  • Specific physical requirements (size diameter 0.24-0.55 inch, thickness 6-14 mm).
  • Chemical composition requirements (Nickel >= 99.95%, Sulfur <= 0.001%, Iron <= 0.001%, Copper <= 0.001%, Carbon <= 0.005%).

• Packaging: Packaged and shipped in metal drum containers (approx. 308 lbs/140 kg each), secured on pallets with metal straps, complying with DOT and National Motor Freight Classification rules.

• Marking: Drums and skid loads require specific markings including product description, BEP stock number, weight, lot number, manufacturer, and barcode information.

• Quality Assurance: Contractor must rely on existing quality assurance system and provide a Certificate of Conformance and Inspection and Test Reports.

• Environmental, Health, and Safety: Compliance with EHS requirements for purchased materials is mandatory.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FFP EPA) and Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Five (5) one-year ordering periods, starting upon contract award.

• Estimated Ordering Periods:

  • Period 1: 03/13/2026 – 03/12/2027
  • Period 2: 03/13/2027 – 03/12/2028
  • Period 3: 03/13/2028 – 03/12/2029
  • Period 4: 03/13/2029 – 03/12/2030
  • Period 5: 03/13/2030 – 03/12/2031

• Contract Minimum: $66,658.08 (guaranteed amount).

• Contract Maximum: Not to Exceed (NTE) $3,332,190.40 for all five ordering periods.

• Offer Due Date: February 20, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET.

• Submission Instructions: Quotes to be submitted electronically to Susan.Delacruz@BEP.gov and Frederick.Porter@BEP.gov.

• Evaluation Criteria:

  • Technical: Quoter's response will be evaluated for satisfactory responsiveness to requirements, rated Acceptable or Unacceptable.
  • Price: Evaluated for fair and reasonable pricing.

• Basis for Award: Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

• Price Hold: Quoters agree to hold prices for Ordering Period 1 for 60 calendar days.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• NAICS Code: 331491

• Size Standard: 900 employees.

• Delivery is FOB Destination to multiple locations: Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, TX.

• Delivery is required within 15 calendar days after issuance of the respective order.

• Contact information for questions: Susan.Delacruz@BEP.gov and Frederick.Porter@BEP.gov. Questions due by February 17, 2026, 12:00 PM ET.

Amendment / Modification

This document is Amendment 0001 to Solicitation 2031ZA26Q00012. It serves to answer vendor questions and provide clarifications regarding the solicitation.

• The document contains a series of questions and answers that clarify various aspects of the solicitation, including:

  • Packaging requirements (must be in drums, not boxes).
  • Contract type (IDIQ, not BPA).
  • Pricing structure (Firm Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment).
  • Award period (5 years).
  • Delivery order placement and quantity distribution (34 drums to Washington, 34 to Fort Worth).
  • Specific product acceptance (Vale's Nickel “S” Pellets only).

• Bidders should review all questions and answers to ensure their quotes accurately reflect the clarified requirements.

• The deadline for quotation submission is February 20, 2026, at 3:30 P.M. ET. (See Section L).

Amendment / Modification

This amendment extends the submission deadlines for solicitation 2031ZA26Q00012, "Nickel 'S' Pellets", due to organizational realignment.

• Questions Submission Deadline: Extended to February 10, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET.

• Solicitation Closing Date: Extended to February 17, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET.

• Item 9A (Amendment of Solicitation Number) and Item 9B (Dated)

• Item 11 (This item only applies to amendments of solicitations)

Proposal deadlines for submitting questions and the final solicitation closing have been extended as noted above. All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements for materials purchased by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). It defines specifications for purchased or sample materials to ensure compliance with government and commercial EHS regulations.

• Scope: Applies to material procurement at the BEP.
• Roles & Responsibilities: Defines responsibilities for the EMS Facility Management Representative, Contracting Officer (CO)/Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), and Bureau/Contractor Personnel.
• Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements: Specifies that all materials must minimize risks of injury and illness, comply with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and other applicable standards. BEP reserves the right to reject materials that may cause adverse health effects.
• Chemicals: Identifies prohibited and restricted chemicals, requires up-to-date Safety Data Sheets (SDS) compliant with OSHA's Hazard Communication standard, and mandates written approval before use.
• Environmental Protection: Materials must meet or exceed standards from EPA Clean Air Act, 40 CFR regulations (including those for recovered materials, hazardous waste, emergency planning, and toxic chemical release reporting), and District of Columbia/Texas environmental regulations.
• Air Emissions: Specifies limits for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content in inks and requires identification of regulated air pollutants. It also addresses Air Toxics and glycol ethers.
• Wastewater & Solid/Hazardous Waste: Outlines requirements for providing information on material/effluents and waste characteristics for proper handling and disposal.
• Other Requirements: Includes compliance with regulations regarding Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), Pre-manufacture Notification, Proposition 65, Superfund Amendments Reauthorization Act (SARA), and Total Toxic Organics.
• Recycled Materials: Recommends the use of post-consumer recovered materials, with a target of at least 30% post-consumer fiber content for paper.
• Related Documents: Lists other relevant EHS review procedures and restricted materials documents.

This document is critical for any vendor supplying materials to the BEP. Bidders must ensure their products and processes comply with all specified EHS requirements, including chemical content, emissions, waste handling, and reporting. Failure to comply may result in rejection of materials or non-acceptance of the bid. The document also encourages the use of environmentally friendly and recycled materials.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for the procurement of Nickel "S" Pellets (99.95% purity) for use in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) electroplating processes at their District of Columbia Facility (DCF) and Western Currency Facility (WCF). The BEP's primary customer is the Federal Reserve Board (FRB).

• Product: Nickel Anodes- Spherical Pellets (ENG1300), sulfur depolarized.

• Physical Requirements:

  • Shape: Spherical pellet
  • Size Diameter: 0.24-0.55 inch (6-14 mm)
  • Thickness: Not specified
  • Appearance: Silvery white lustrous finish
  • Type: Sulfur Depolarized

• Chemical Composition: Specific maximum percentages for Sulfur, Iron, Copper, and Carbon are detailed, with Nickel being the primary component.

• Performance: Anodes must perform satisfactorily for electroplating currency printing plates without defects like digs, cracks, or pits.

• Shelf Life: Indefinite shelf life from date of delivery.

• Packaging: Packaged in metal drum containers (approx. 308 lbs/140 kg each), palletized with metal straps, and compliant with DOT and National Motor Freight Classification rules.

• Marking: Drums and skid loads require specific markings including product description, BEP stock number, weight, manufacturer's lot number, and other relevant information. Barcode labels are also required.

• Quality Assurance: Contractor must have a quality assurance system and provide a Certificate of Conformance and Inspection/Test Reports.

• Environmental, Health, and Safety: Compliance with EHS requirements for purchased materials is mandatory.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FFP EPA) and Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ).

• Period of Performance: Five (5) one-year ordering periods, starting from contract award.

• Estimated Ordering Periods:

  • Period 1: 03/10/2026 – 03/09/2027
  • Period 2: 03/10/2027 – 03/09/2028
  • Period 3: 03/10/2028 – 03/10/2029
  • Period 4: 03/10/2029 – 03/09/2030
  • Period 5: 03/10/2030 – 03/09/2031

• Contract Minimum: $66,658.08 (guaranteed amount).

• Contract Maximum: Not to exceed $3,332,190.40 for the total of all delivery orders.

• Offer Due Date: February 9, 2026, 3:30 PM ET.

• Quote Submission: Must include a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for chemical composition. Brochures are not substitutes. A full breakdown of costs in the Price Schedule is required.

• Price Hold: Quotes must be held for 60 calendar days.

• Evaluation: Award will be made on the basis of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Quotes will be evaluated for technical acceptability (Acceptable/Unacceptable) and price (fair and reasonable).

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• NAICS Code: 331491

• Size Standard: 900 employees

• Contact Information: Inquiries should be directed in writing to Susan.Delacruz@BEP.gov and Frederick.Porter@BEP.gov by February 2, 2026, 3:30 PM ET.

• Delivery Locations: Washington, D.C. Annex Building and Fort Worth, TX Facility.

• Delivery Requirement: Earliest delivery required is within 15 calendar days after issuance of the respective order.

• Contract Administration: Administered by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer.

• Contracting Officer's Representative (COR): Will be appointed at contract award.

Justification and Approval (J&A) for Brand Name Procurement

This document justifies the procurement of "S" Pellets (raw nickel material) for electrolytic plating operations at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) facilities in Washington, D.C. (DCF) and the Western Currency Facility (WCF). The acquisition is for five (5) ordering periods.

• Procurement of "S" Pellets (raw nickel material) meeting specific purity and quality standards for electrolytic plating.

• The material must adhere to stringent specifications to ensure proper functioning in the BEP's currency printing process.

• Estimated Dollar Value: $3,332,190.40

• Period of Performance: Five (5) ordering periods.

• Contract Type: Not explicitly stated, but justified under FAR Subpart 6.10(d) and 13.5.

• This document is a justification for a brand-name procurement, not a solicitation for proposals.

• Market research was conducted, and a previous solicitation (2031ZA25Q00156) was posted from July 31, 2025, to August 30, 2025.

• The upcoming solicitation will be publicized as a small business set-aside using the Non-manufacturer rule class waiver.

• Price will be evaluated using price analysis techniques to ensure fairness and reasonableness.

• The upcoming solicitation will be a small business set-aside.

• A Non-manufacturer rule class waiver will be utilized.

• The justification cites Vale as the sole manufacturer meeting the BEP's unique specifications for "S" Pellets, citing the risk of production delays and currency damage if specifications are not met.

• A Change Control Board (CCB) Verification and Validation (V&V) Level Two (2) test would be required for any new vendor or grade of nickel, potentially causing significant delays.

• The document references an attached Specification for the "S" Pellets.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) under FAR Part 12 and 15. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) requires a single-award Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract to support the supply of Nickel "S" Pellets for its facilities in Washington D.C. and Fort Worth, TX. The BEP designs, engraves, and prints U.S. Currency banknotes and other security products.

• Supply of Nickel "S" Pellets.

• Deliverables are to be provided to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's Washington D.C. location (DCF) and Western Currency Facility (WCF).

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).

• Period of Performance: Not explicitly stated, but quotes must be held firm for 60 calendar days from the submission deadline.

• Estimated Value: Not stated.

• Submission Deadline: February 9, 2026, at 3:30 P.M. ET. No extension permitted.

• Questions Due: February 2, 2026, at 3:30 P.M. ET. No extension permitted.

• Submission Method: Quotes shall be submitted electronically to Susan.Delacruz@BEP.gov and Frederick.Porter@BEP.gov.

• Required Documents: Signed SF 1449, Certificate of Analysis (COA), and signed Amendments (if applicable).

• Evaluation Criteria: Detailed in Sections L (Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Quoters) and M (Evaluation Factors for Award).

• This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns.

• This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a written solicitation will not be issued separately.

• Full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed at www.acquisition.gov.

• NAICS Code: 331491 – Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing and Extruding.

• PSC Code: 9610 - Ores.