Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Fort Worth)

Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Fort Worth)
Name	Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Fort Worth)
Location	Fort Worth, Texas
Built	1991
Governing body	United States Department of the Treasury

Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Fort Worth) is a United States currency production facility located in Fort Worth, Texas, operated by the United States Department of the Treasury. The site complements the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Washington, D.C., and participates in federal United States Mint and Federal Reserve currency distribution efforts. The Fort Worth plant played a role in regional economic development initiatives involving the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and federal procurement programs.

History

The Fort Worth facility was established following congressional appropriations influenced by policymakers in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and opened during the administration of President George H. W. Bush. Its creation reflected shifts in federal production strategy that involved the Department of the Treasury, coordination with the Federal Reserve System, and input from legislators from Texas and the Southwest United States. Early planning referenced technical standards from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing central offices and procurement processes governed by the Office of Management and Budget and the General Services Administration. The facility has been involved in responses to monetary policy demands set by the Federal Reserve Board and emergency contingency planning tied to events like natural disasters affecting other federal production sites.

Facilities and Operations

The Fort Worth complex occupies a secured industrial site near transportation arteries connecting to Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport and regional rail lines linked to Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. The facility layout incorporates administrative offices, production floors, warehousing, and a distribution center coordinating shipments to Regional Federal Reserve Banks including branches that serve the Eleventh Federal Reserve District. Operations interface with federal agencies such as the United States Secret Service for anti-counterfeiting coordination and the United States Postal Service for official correspondence. The plant has undergone upgrades that referenced standards from organizations like the American National Standards Institute and involved contractors that have worked on projects for the General Services Administration and other federal facilities.

Currency Production and Technology

Production at Fort Worth focuses on printing and finishing banknotes using intaglio presses, offset presses, and security paper processes developed in consultation with central imprimatur from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing headquarters. Technological implementations have paralleled innovations by firms in the security printing sector that have collaborated with entities such as Eastman Kodak Company and specialty firms with histories tied to Giesecke+Devrient and other international currency printers. The facility utilizes advanced anti-counterfeiting features consistent with guidance from the United States Secret Service and incorporates serial-numbering systems, color-shifting inks, microprinting, and watermark integration similar to techniques discussed in standards referenced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Production schedules are adjusted relative to demand signals from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and inventory management practices aligned with federal treasury logistics.

Workforce and Administration

Staffing at Fort Worth comprises federal civil servants employed under personnel systems administered by the United States Office of Personnel Management and supplemented by specialized contractors who have provided maintenance, equipment servicing, and information-technology support. Labor relations have involved interactions with unions and employee organizations active in the region, and employment levels have been influenced by congressional appropriations authorized through committees such as the United States House Committee on Appropriations and oversight entities including the United States Government Accountability Office. Management structures follow administrative models from the Department of the Treasury and coordinate with headquarters in Washington, D.C. for budgeting, procurement, and program policy.

Security and Safety Measures

Security at the Fort Worth site is multi-layered, involving perimeter controls, screening procedures, closed-circuit surveillance systems, and collaboration with the United States Secret Service for counterfeiting investigations. Safety programs adhere to occupational standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and involve emergency planning compatible with directives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Physical security design and technology procurement have referenced best practices used in other secure federal facilities like installations administered by the Department of Defense and security upgrades following law-enforcement coordination with the Fort Worth Police Department and federal law-enforcement task forces.

Public Programs and Tours

The Fort Worth facility maintains limited public engagement through educational outreach, workforce development partnerships with institutions such as Texas Christian University and local technical colleges, and occasional community liaison programs coordinated with the City of Fort Worth cultural and visitor initiatives. Unlike some federal facilities that offer regular public tours, access policies are shaped by security considerations and federal guidelines from the Department of the Treasury and the United States Secret Service, with occasional programs aligned to civic events involving representatives from the Office of the Mayor of Fort Worth and congressional delegations from Texas's 12th congressional district.

Category:Buildings and structures in Fort Worth, Texas Category:United States Department of the Treasury