(1) The department shall procure stamps as needed in the various designs, denominations, and forms necessary as determined by the department. The department shall pay for the stamps.

    (2) Not later than August 4, 2012, the department shall issue a request for proposal to acquire and use digital stamps that contain a unique nonrepeating code that can be read by a device that identifies the taxed product and also contain other security and enforcement features as determined by the department. The request for proposal must include a provision that requires the successful bidder on the proposal to share digital stamp technology so that handheld devices, including, but not limited to, smartphones, can be readily utilized in furtherance of the implementation of the use of digital stamps and so that the technology and equipment used by the stamping agents to affix the stamp to the product can be supplied, as may be permitted by the department, by the successful bidder on the proposal or by any other providers. The request for proposal must also include a provision permitting the department to manage or restrict access rights to all or part of the information contained within, or accessible from, the stamps and a provision requiring the successful bidder on the proposal to guarantee that the stamps will be designed and manufactured to ensure that stamps can be affixed to individual packages of cigarettes in accordance with the requirements under section 6a(2) and (3).