ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Introduction
    The following acceptance criteria shall be employed to evaluate the 
paper's conformance to specification.
    Paper that does not meet all specification values shall be accepted 
with no discount providing that the minimum acceptable Product Quality 
Index (PQI) of 70 is met.
    The PQI for a specific paper is determined by assigning demerits to 
each deficient quality characteristic based on test results. The 
demerits assigned will vary with the category of deficiency. A minor 
defect shall be assigned 4 demerits, a major defect 12 demerits, and a 
critical defect 36 demerits.
Definitions
    Minor Defect. Any deficiency from specified values which does not 
materially reduce the usability of the paper for its intended purpose; 
or require special procedures for printing or processing.
    Major Defect. Any deficiency from specified values, other than 
critical, that could result in failure, or materially reduce the 
usability of the paper for its intended purpose; or may require special 
procedures for printing or processing, or is a significant deviation 
from specifications, established standards, or average process 
capability, or may materially affect the appearance of the product.
    Critical Defect. Any deficiency from specified requirement that 
judgment and experience indicate would result in the paper being 
unusable for its intended purpose; or is a serious departure from 
specifications, established standards, or average process capability.
    The equation for the calculaton of the Product Quality Index is as 
follows:
    Product Quality Index is equal to 100 minus the sum of the assessed 
demerits for each paper characteristic or property.
                                             i=N
          Expressed mathematically, PQI=100-<greek-S> C<INF>i
</INF>                                             i=1
      
    where C=characteristics or properties
    Paper having a PQI of 70 or better shall be accepted at the 
contracted price as meeting the intent and requirement of the 
specification. That having a PQI below 70 shall be considered as 
critically defective, subject to outright rejection.
    Criteria for establishing the category of defect and demerits are as 
follows unless otherwise stated in the specification standard:
    1. Acidity (pH Value):
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 0.20 pH unit.......... Minor....................             4
0.20-0.40 pH unit............... Major....................            12
More than 0.40 pH unit.......... Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (4.5)-0.3=4.2; Over 4.2 pH but less than 4.5=Minor 
        defect or 4 demerits.
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stocks except those with minimum pH 
      requirements of 7.0 or 7.5 or if no designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 0.40 pH unit.......... Minor....................             4
0.40-0.60 pH unit............... Major....................            12
More than 0.60 pH unit.......... Critical.................            36
    c. Papers with minimum requirements of 7.0 or 7.5 pH value.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical.................            36
    2. Alpha Cellulose:

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 5 percentage points... Minor....................             4
5-10 percentage points.......... Major....................            12
More than 10 percentage points.. Critical.................            36
    3. Basis Weight/Grammage:

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical.................            36
    4. Brightness:

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 0.5 percentage point.. Minor....................             4
0.5-1.0 percentage point........ Major....................            12
More than 1.0 percentage point.. Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
More than 2.0 percentage points 
  below target value............
    5. Bursting Strength:
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 5 pct................. Minor....................             4
5-10 pct........................ Major....................            12
More than 10 pct................ Critical.................            36
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor....................             4
10-25 pct....................... Major....................            12
More than 25 pct................ Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (400)  x  25 pct=100; 400-100=300; Less than 300 
        Bursting Strength=critical defect or 36 demerits.
    6. Calcium Carbonate--Same as 3 above.
    7. Cleanliness--Same as 3 above.
    8. Color Deviation (from Standard):
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 0.5 DE unit over 
  specified..................... Minor....................             4
0.5 to 1.5 DE unit over 
  specified..................... Major....................            12
More than 1.5 DE unit over 
  specified..................... Critical.................            36
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 1.0 DE unit over 
  specified..................... Minor....................             4
1.0 to 2.0 DE unit(s) over 
  specified..................... Major....................            12
More than 2.0 DE units over 
  specified.                     Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
If standard states another DE 
  value as being critically 
  defective.....................
    9. Color Variation (Does not include 2-Sidedness):

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Within a shipment or between 
  shipments in an order, more 
  than 0.5 DE unit over 
  specified..................... Critical.................            36
    10. Copper Number (excess copper number):
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor....................             4
10-25 pct....................... Major....................            12
More than 25 pct................ Critical.................            36
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 25 pct................ Minor....................             4
25-50 pct....................... Major....................            12
More than 50 pct................ Critical.................            36
    11. Equilibrium Relative Humidity:
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than <plus-minus>1 
  percentage point.............. Minor....................             4
<plus-minus>1 to <plus-minus>2 
  percentage points............. Major....................            12
More than <plus-minus>2 
  percentage points............. Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (45 pct <plus-minus>5 pct) <plus-minus>2; Maximum 45 
        pct +5+2=52 pct; Minimum 45 pct -5-2=38 pct: Over 52 pct RH or 
        under 38 pct RH=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than <plus-minus>3 
  percentage points............. Minor....................             4
<plus-minus>3 to <plus-minus>5 
  percentage points............. Major....................            12
More than <plus-minus>5 
  percentage points............. Critical.................            36
    12. Filler--See calcium carbonate.
    13. Flap Adhesive Thickness:

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor....................             4
10-25 pct....................... Major....................            12
More than 25 pct................ Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
Flap sticks prematurely to body 
  of envelope or fails to seal 
  under conditions described in 
  the specifications............
      Example: Spec (0.015 mm)  x  25 pct=0.00375; 0.015 - 
        0.0038=0.0112; Less than 0.0112 mm=Critical defect or 36 
        demerits.
    14. Fluorescence--See optical brightener.
    15. Folding Endurance--Same as 5 above.
    16. Formaldehyde (melamine-formaldehyde)--Same as 3 above.
    17. Gloss--Same as 5 above.
    18. Grammage--See basis weight.
    19. Oil Holdout (of Coating)--Same as 3 above
    20. Oil Penetration--Same as 10 above.
    21. Opacity:

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 1.0 percentage point.. Minor....................             4
1.0-2.0 percentage points....... Major....................            12
More than 2.0 percentage points. Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
Individual specimen averaging 
  more than 0.5 percentage point 
  below minimum stated in 
  specification.................
    22. Optical Brighteners (fluorescence):
    a. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 0.5 percentage point.. Minor....................             4
0.5-1.0 percentage point........ Major....................            12
More than 1 percentage point.... Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (2 pct) +1=3 pct; Over 3 pct Optical 
        Brighteners=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
    b. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 1 percentage point.... Minor....................             4
1-2 percentage points........... Major....................            12
More than 2 percentage points... Critical.................            36
    23. Pick Resistance (Wax Pick):

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 1 below No. specified. Minor....................             4
1.0-2.0 below No. specified..... Major....................            12
More than 2.0 below No. 
  specified..................... Critical.................            36
  Or
Individual specimen averaging 1 
  No. below minimum stated in 
  specification.................
    24. Porosity--Same as 5 above.
    25. Rosin (excess)--Same as 5 above.
    26. Size--Same as 3 above.
    27. Smoothness--Same as 5 above.
      Example: Spec (50-125) x 25 pct; 50 x 25 pct=12.5; 125 x 25 
        pct=31.25; 50-12.5=37.5; 125+31.25=156.25. Less than 37.5 or 
        more than 156.25=Critical defect or 36 demerits.
    28. Stiffness--Same as 5 above.
    29. Stock (fiber analysis):
    a. Papers required to contain 25 pct, 50 pct, 100 pct cotton/linen 
      fibers or 100 pct of specified fiber, other than cotton/linen.

Deficiency in specified fiber:   Category                       Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor....................             4
3-5 percentage points........... Major....................            12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (100 pct)-3=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct 
        cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect or 4 demerits.

Presence of unbleached and/or 
  groundwood (other than Kraft): Catgory                        Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor....................             4
3-5 percentage points........... Major....................            12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
More than 2 pct lignin content.
      Example: Spec (100 pct)-3=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct 
        cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect, and spec (100 pct)-3 pct 
        unbleached or groundwood=97 pct; Over 97 pct up to 100 pct 
        cotton/linen fibers=Minor defect, 4 demerits.
    b. Other stocks required to be free from unbleached or groundwood 
      pulp.

Presence of unbleached and/or 
  groundwood:                    Category                       Demerits
Less than 3 percentage points... Minor....................             4
3-5 percentage points........... Major....................            12
More than 5 percentage points... Critical.................            36
  Or                                                                    
More than 2 pct lignin content.
    c. Stocks required to have not more than specified percentages of 
      lignin and/or groundwood.

Excess pct lignin and/or 
  groundwood:                    Catgory                        Demerits
More than 1 percentage point 
  from specified................ Critical.................            36
    30. Tearing Strength--Same as 5 above.
    31. Tensile Strength--Same as 5 above.
    32. Thickness:
    a. Postal Card and 100 pct Cream-White Index Paper.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical.................            36
    b. ``Precision Requirements'' all stocks when so designated except 
      ``a'' above.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 2 pct................. Minor....................             4
2-4 pct......................... Major....................            12
More than 4 pct................. Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (0.120<plus-minus>0.013) x 4 pct; 0.120 x 4 
        pct=0.0048; Maximum 0.120+ 0.013+ 0.0048= 0.1378; Minimum 0.120- 
        0.013- 0.0048= 0.1022; Over 0.1378 or less than 0.1022=Critical 
        defect or 36 demerits.
    c. ``Regular Requirements'' all stock when so designated or if no 
      designation in solicitation except ``a'' above.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 4 pct................. Minor....................             4
4-8 pct......................... Major....................            12
More than 8 pct................. Critical.................            36
    d. Variation on individual sheets from one edge to the other.

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Less than 10 pct................ Minor....................             4
10-25 pct....................... Major....................            12
More than 25 pct................ Critical.................            36
      Example: Spec (0.011) x 25 pct; 0.011 x 25 pct=0.00275; 
        0.011+0.00275=0.014; Variation over 0.014=Critical defect or 36 
        demerits.
    33. Water Resistance--Same as 5 above.
    34. All Other Measurable Characteristics (such as density, light 
transmission, reflectance drop, etc.):

Deficiency:                      Category                       Demerits
Not as specified................ Critical.................            36

    35. Judgment Characteristics (such as evaluation of construction, 
erasing/writing qualities, watermark, finish, formation etc.):

Assessment:                      Category                       Demerits
Fair or rating ``2''............ Minor....................             4
Fair minus or rating ``3''...... Major....................            12
Unacceptable or rating ``4''.... Critical.................            36