Department of the Treasury (DY), Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office of Procurement, 14th & C Sts., SW, Room 708-A, Washington, DC 20228

96 -- ELECTROLYTIC NICKEL ANODES DUE 011698 POC Larry McCain, Contract Specialist (202) 874-3139/Jennifer L. Sellers, Contracting Officer (202) 874-3148 WEB: click here to download a copy of the specification, http://www.treas.gov/bep/proc. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is conducting a market research to obtain comments to it's specification number C: Ni-3, dated October 15, 1997, for Electrolytic Nickel Adnodes, in the form of button shaped pieces approximately 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter and about 0.24 inch (6 mm) in thickness. Chemical Composition Requirements: 99.97% minimum nickel; 0.02% minimum sulfur; 0.025% maximum copper; 0.02% iron maximum; 0.004% maximum carbon; trace elements (lead, zinc, arsenic, manganese, antimony, tin, etc.) <0.005% maximum. The BEP is requesting information of the following types: (1) Whether the Government's needs can be met by -- (a) Items of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace; (b) Items of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace with modifications; or (c) Items used exclusively for governmental purposes. (2) Customary practices regarding customizing, modifying or tailoring of items to meet customer needs and associated costs; (3) Customary practices regarding customizing, modifying or tailoring items to meet customer needs and associated costs; (4) Customary practices, including warranty, buyer financing, discounts, etc., under which commercial sales of the products are made; (5) The requirements of any laws and regulations unigue to the item being acquired; (6) The availability of items that contain recovered materials and items that are energy efficient; (7) The distribution and support capabilities of potential suppliers, including alternative arrangements and cost estimates; and (8) Size status of potential sources (see FAR Part 19). The specification will be available at the BEP Homepage at website: http://www.treas.gov/bep/proc, on or about December 15, 1997. Interested firms who would like to receive a hardcopy of the specification should submit a written request to the attention of Larry McCain, Contract Sepcialist, at the address listed in this notice. The information requested in this notice should be submitted not later than January 16, 1998. This is not a request for proposals. (0344)

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