Program 0043-S 

Term December 1, 2020 To November 30, 2021

TITLE: The NIH Record

Basis of 

ITEM NO. Description Award UNIT RATE COST UNIT RATE COST UNIT RATE COST UNIT RATE COST

I. PREPRESS OPERATIONS:

System Timework........................................per hour..... 65 $75.00 $4,875.00 $80.00 $5,200.00 $78.75 $5,118.75 $50.00 $3,250.00

II. PRINTING, BINDING, PACKING, AND DISTRIBUTION:

Makeready and/or Setup...........................per page.... 312 $1,147.92 $358,151.04 $69.50 $21,684.00 $78.50 $24,492.00 $65.00 $20,280.00

Running...........................................per 1,000 copies..... 2509 $196.12 $492,065.08 $17.98 $45,111.82 $23.64 $59,312.76 $17.00 $42,653.00

CONTRACTOR'S SUBTOTAL $855,091.12 $71,995.82 $88,923.51 $66,183.00

ACCELERATED SCHEDULE 15% $128,263.67 $10,799.37 $13,338.53 $9,927.45

III. PREMIUM PAYMENTS

Percentage Increase 3% $3,847.91 10% $1,079.94 10% $1,333.85 5% $496.37

CONTRACTOR TOTALS $858,939.03 $73,075.76 $90,257.36 $66,679.37

DISCOUNT 0.00% $0.00 2.00% $1,461.52 5.00% $4,512.87 1.00% $666.79

DISCOUNTED TOTALS $858,939.03 $71,614.24 $85,744.49 $66,012.58

Basis of 

ITEM NO. Description Award UNIT RATE COST UNIT RATE COST UNIT RATE COST

I. PREPRESS OPERATIONS:

System Timework........................................per hour..... 65 $48.75 $3,168.75 $75.00 $4,875.00 $85.00 $5,525.00

II. PRINTING, BINDING, PACKING, AND DISTRIBUTION:

Makeready and/or Setup...........................per page.... 312 $21.08 $6,576.96 $65.00 $20,280.00 $65.00 $20,280.00

Running...........................................per 1,000 copies..... 2509 $28.35 $71,130.15 $19.00 $47,671.00 $17.50 $43,907.50

CONTRACTOR'S SUBTOTAL $80,875.86 $72,826.00 $69,712.50

ACCELERATED SCHEDULE 15% $12,131.38 $10,923.90 $10,456.88

III. PREMIUM PAYMENTS

Percentage Increase 13% $1,577.08 5% $546.20 10% $1,045.69

CONTRACTOR TOTALS $82,452.94 $73,372.20 $70,758.19

DISCOUNT 2.00% $1,649.06 2.00% $1,467.44 2.00% $1,415.16

DISCOUNTED TOTALS $80,803.88 $71,904.76 $69,343.03

Current Contractor

Cheverly, MD Capitol Heights, MD

Temple Hills, MD

McDonald & Eudy

Mosaic Gray Graphics

Capitol Heights, MD

Eureka, MO Upper Marlboro, MD

Cenveo St Louis District Creative Printing

Gray Graphics

Lancaster, PA

Intellicor
Program 0043-S Page 1 of 15

Specifications by JKB

Reviewed by MRN

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Washington, DC

GENERAL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS

For the Procurement of 

The NIH Record

as requisitioned from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) by the

Department of Health and Human Services

(National Institutes of Health)

Single Award

TERM OF CONTRACT: The term of this contract is for the period beginning December 1, 2020 and ending 

November 30, 2021, plus up to four (4) optional 12-month extension period(s) that may be added in accordance with

the “OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT” clause in SECTION 1 of this contract.

BID OPENING: Bids shall be opened at 11:00 a.m., prevailing Washington, DC Time, on October 9, 2020, at the 

Government Publishing Office, Washington, DC. (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will NOT be a public bid 

opening.)

BID SUBMISSION: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical office will NOT be open. Based on this, bidders 

must submit email bidsto bidsapsdc@gpo.gov for thissolicitation. No other method of bid submission will be accepted 

at this time. The program number and bid opening date must be specified in the subject line of the emailed bid 

submission. Bids received after 11:00 a.m. on the bid opening date specified above will not be considered for award. 

BIDDERS, PLEASE NOTE: These specifications have been extensively revised; therefore, all bidders are cautioned 

to familiarize themselves with all provisions of these specifications before bidding. GPO has issued a new Government 

Paper Specification Standards, No. 13, dated September 2019. Prospective bidders should carefully read this 

publication as the applicable standards within become an integral part of this contract. The document is posted at 

https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/vendors/forms-and-standards along with a list of major revisions.

(202) 512-0526.

Abstracts of contract prices are available at https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/vendors/contract-pricing.

For information of a technical nature, contact Jim Ballou at jballou@gpo.gov or (202) 512-0310.
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SECTION 1. - GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

GPO CONTRACT TERMS: Any contract which results from this Invitation for Bid will be subject to the applicable 

provisions, clauses, and supplemental specifications of GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2, effective 

December 1, 1987 (Rev. 01-18)) and GPO Contract Terms, Quality Assurance through Attributes Program for Printing 

and Binding (GPO Publication 310.1, effective May 1979 (Rev. 09-19)).

GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2) – https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-filesfor-vendors/contractterms2018.pdf.

GPO QATAP (GPO Publication 310.1) – https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-files-forvendors/qatap-rev-09-19.pdf.

SUBCONTRACTING: The predominant production functions are printing, Any bidder who cannot perform the 

predominant production functions of this contract will be declared non-responsible.

QUALITY ASSURANCE LEVELS AND STANDARDS: The following levels and standards shall apply to these 

specifications:

Product Quality Levels:

(a) Printing (page related) Attributes – Level II.

(b) Finishing (item related) Attributes – Level II.

Inspection Levels (from ANSI/ASQC Z1.4):

(a) Non-destructive Tests – General Inspection Level I.

(b) Destructive Tests – Special Inspection Level S-2.

Specified Standards: The specified standards for the attributes requiring them shall be:

Attribute Specified Standard

P-7. Type Quality and Uniformity O.K. Press Sheet

P-8. Halftone Match (Single Impression) O.K. Press Sheet

P-9. Solid and Screen Tint Color Match O.K. Press Sheet

P-10. Process Color Match O.K. Press Sheet

Special Instructions: In the event that inspection of press sheets is waived by the Government, the following listed 

alternate standards (in order of precedence) shall become the Specified Standards:

P-7. O.K. proofs; average type dimension; electronic media

P-8. O.K. proofs; electronic media

P-9. Pantone Matching System

P-10. O.K. proofs
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OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT: The Government has the option to extend the term of 

this contract for a period of 12 months by written notice to the contractor not later than 30 days before the contract 

expires. If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this clause, 

except, the total duration of the contract may not exceed five (5) years as a result of, and including, any extension(s) 

added under this clause. Further extension may be negotiated under the “EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TERM” 

clause. See also “ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT” for authorized pricing adjustment(s).

EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TERM: At the request of the Government, the term of any contract resulting from 

this solicitation may be extended for such period of time as may be mutually agreeable to the GPO and the contractor.

ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT: The pricing under this contract shall be adjusted in accordance with this 

clause, provided that in no event will any pricing adjustment be made that would exceed the maximum permissible 

under any law in effect at the time of the adjustment. There will be no adjustment for orders placed during the first 

period specified below. Pricing will thereafter be eligible for adjustment during the second and any succeeding 

performance period(s). For each performance period after the first, a percentage figure will be calculated as described 

below and that figure will be the economic price adjustment for that entire next period. Pricing adjustments under this 

clause are not applicable to reimbursable postage or transportation costs, or to paper, if paper prices are subject to 

adjustment by separate clause elsewhere in this contract.

For the purpose of this clause, performance under this contract will be divided into successive periods. The first period 

will extend from December 1, 2020 to November 30, 2021, and the second and any succeeding period(s) will extend 

for 12 months from the end of the last preceding period, except that the length of the final period may vary. The first 

day of the second and any succeeding period(s) will be the effective date of the economic price adjustment for that 

period.

Pricing adjustments in accordance with this clause will be based on changes in the seasonally adjusted “Consumer Price 

Index For All Urban Consumers – Commodities less Food” (Index) published monthly in the CPI Detailed Report by 

the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The economic price adjustment will be the percentage difference between Index averages as specified in this paragraph. 

An index called the variable index will be calculated by averaging the monthly Indexes from the 12-month interval 

ending three (3) months prior to the beginning of the period being considered for adjustment. This average is then 

compared to the average of the monthly Indexes for the 12-month interval ending August, 31, 2020, called the base 

index. The percentage change (plus or minus) of the variable index from the base index will be the economic price 

adjustment for the period being considered for adjustment.

The Government will notify the contractor by contract modification specifying the percentage increase or decrease to be 

applied to invoices for orders placed during the period indicated. The contractor shall apply the percentage increase or 

decrease against the total price of the invoice less reimbursable postage or transportation costs and separately adjusted 

paper prices. Payment discounts shall be applied after the invoice price is adjusted.

PREAWARD SURVEY: In order to determine the responsibility of the prime contractor or any subcontractor, the 

Government reserves the right to conduct an on-site preaward survey at the contractor’s/subcontractor’s facility or to 

require other evidence of technical, production, managerial, financial, and similar abilities to perform, prior to the 

award of a contract. As part of the financial determination, the contractor in line for award may be required to provide 

one or more of the following financial documents:

1) Most recent profit and loss statement 

2) Most recent balance sheet 

3) Statement of cash flows 

4) Current official bank statement

5) Current lines of credit (with amounts available) 

6) Letter of commitment from paper supplier(s) 
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7) Letter of commitment from any subcontractor

The documents will be reviewed to validate that adequate financial resources are available to perform the contract 

requirements. Documents submitted will be kept confidential, and used only for the determination of responsibility by 

the Government. Failure to provide the requested information in the time specified by the Government may result in the 

Contracting Officer not having adequate information to reach an affirmative determination of responsibility.

POSTAWARD CONFERENCE: Unless waived by the Contracting Officer, the total requirements of the job as 

indicated in these specifications will be reviewed by Government representatives with the contractor’s representatives at

the Government Publishing Office, Washington, DC, immediately after award. At the Government’s option, the 

postaward conference may be held via teleconference. 

Person(s) that the contractor deems necessary for the successful implementation of the contract must be in attendance.

ASSIGNMENT OF JACKETS, PURCHASE AND PRINT ORDERS: A GPO jacket number will be assigned and 

a purchase order issued to the contractor to cover work performed. The purchase order will be supplemented by an 

individual print order for each job placed with the contractor. The print order, when issued, will indicate the quantity to 

be produced and any other information pertinent to the particular order.

ORDERING: Items to be furnished under the contract shall be ordered by the issuance of print orders by the 

Government. Orders may be issued under the contract from December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021 plus for 

such additional period(s) as the contract is extended. All print orders issued hereunder are subject to the terms and 

conditions of the contract. The contract shall control in the event of conflict with any print order. A print order shall be 

“issued” upon notification by the Government for purposes of the contract when it is electronically transmitted or 

otherwise physically furnished to the contractor in conformance with the schedule. 

REQUIREMENTS: This is a requirements contract for the items and for the period specified herein. 

Shipment/delivery of items or performance of work shall be made only as authorized by orders issued in accordance 

with the clause entitled “ORDERING.” The quantities of items specified herein are estimates only, and are not 

purchased hereby. Except as may be otherwise provided in this contract, if the Government’s requirements for the 

items set forth herein do not result in orders in the amounts or quantities described as “estimated,” it shall not constitute 

the basis for an equitable price adjustment under this contract.

Except as otherwise provided in this contract, the Government shall order from the contractor all the items set forth 

which are required to be purchased by the Government activity identified on page 1.

The Government shall not be required to purchase from the contractor, requirements in excess of the limit on total 

orders under this contract, if any.

Orders issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that time shall be completed by the 

contractor within the time specified in the order, and the rights and obligations of the contractor and the Government 

respecting those orders shall be governed by the terms of this contract to the same extent as if completed during the 

effective period of this contract.

If shipment/delivery of any quantity of an item covered by the contract is required by reason of urgency prior to the 

earliest date that shipment/delivery may be specified under this contract, and if the contractor will not accept an order 

providing for the accelerated shipment/delivery, the Government may procure this requirement from another source.

The Government may issue orders which provide for shipment/delivery to or performance at multiple destinations.

Subject to any limitations elsewhere in this contract, the contractor shall furnish to the Government all items set forth 

herein which are called for by print orders issued in accordance with the “ORDERING” clause of this contract.
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ADDITIONAL EMAILED BID SUBMISSION PROVISIONS: The Government will not be responsible for any 

failure attributable to the transmission or receipt of the emailed bid including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Illegibility of bid.

2. Emails over 75 MB may not be received by GPO due to size limitations for receiving emails.

3. The bidder’s email provider may have different size limitations for sending email; however, bidders are 

advised not to exceed GPO’s stated limit.

4. When the email bid is received by GPO, it will remain unopened until the specified bid opening time. 

Government personnel will not validate receipt of the emailed bid prior to bid opening. GPO will use the 

prevailing time (specified as the local time zone) and the exact time that the email is received by GPO’s email 

server as the official time stamp for bid receipt at the specified location.

PAYMENT: Submitting invoices for payment via the GPO fax gateway (if no samples are required) 

utilizing the GPO barcode coversheet program application is the most efficient method of receiving payment. 

Instruction for using this method can be found at the following web address:

http://winapps.access.gpo.gov/fms/vouchers/barcode/instructions.html. 

Invoices may also be mailed to: U.S. Government Publishing Office, Office of Financial Management, Attn: 

Comptroller, Stop: FMCE, Washington, DC 20401. 

For more information about the billing process, refer to the General Information of the Office of Finance 

web page located at: https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/vendors/how-to-get-paid

Contractor’s billing invoice must be itemized in accordance with the items in the “SCHEDULE OF 

PRICES.” 
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SECTION 2. - SPECIFICATIONS

SCOPE: These specifications cover the production of self-covered pamphlets requiring such operations as electronic 

prepress, printing in four-color process plus one additional color, binding, packing, and distribution.

TITLE: The NIH Record.

FREQUENCY OF ORDERS: Bi-weekly (every two weeks).

QUANTITY: Approximately 8,000 copies per order.

NUMBER OF PAGES: 8, 12, or 16 pages per order. (Majority of orders placed will be for 12 pages.)

TRIM SIZE: 8-1/2 x 11”.

GOVERNMENT TO FURNISH: Electronic media will be furnished as follows:

Platform: Macintosh System (most recent version).

Media: FTP.

Software: Adobe InDesign CS.

All platform system and software upgrades (for specified applications) which may occur during the 

term of the contract must be supported by the contractor.

Fonts: All screen and printer fonts will be furnished. 

The contractor is cautioned that furnished fonts are the property of the Government and/or its 

contractor(s). All furnished fonts are to be eliminated from the contractor's archive immediately 

after completion of the contract.

Additional

Information: Files will be supplied in native application and PostScript format.

Illustrations and graphics will be furnished in place in the file.

Corresponding laser-printed visual will be furnished.

CMYK and Pantone will be used for color identification.

GPO Form 952 (Desktop Publishing-Disk Information) will be furnished.

Distribution list.

Identification markings such as register marks, commercial identification marks of any kind, etc., except GPO imprint, 

form number, and revision date, carried in the electronic files, must not print on the finished product.

CONTRACTOR TO FURNISH: All materials and operations, other than those listed under “GOVERNMENT TO 

FURNISH,” necessary to produce the products in accordance with these specifications.

Contractor must have the capability to transmit and receive files via a contractor-hosted FTP site. Appropriate log-on 

instructions and protocol must be provided at time of award. 
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ELECTRONIC PREPRESS: Prior to image processing, the contractorshall perform a basic check (preflight) of the 

furnished media and publishing files to assure correct output of the required reproduction image. Any errors, media 

damage, or data corruption that might interfere with proper file image processing must be reported to the ordering 

agency as specified on the individual print order.

The contractorshall create or alter any necessarytrapping,set properscreen angles and screen frequency, and define file 

outputselection forthe imaging device being utilized. Furnished filesmust be imaged as necessary tomeet the assigned 

quality level. Contractor will be required to create all bleeds. 

All halftones are to be 250-line screen or finer.

When required by the Government, the contractor shall make minor revisions to the electronic files. It is anticipated 

that the Government will make all major revisions. 

Prior to making revisions, the contractorshall copy the furnished files and make all changesto the copy.

Upon completion of the contract, the contractor must furnish final production native application files (digital

deliverables) with the furnished material. The digital deliverables must be an exact representation of the final

printed product and shall be returned on the same type of storage media as was originally furnished. The

Government will not accept, as digital deliverables, PostScript files or any proprietary file formats other than those

supplied, unless specified by the Government. (NOTE: The Government will accept Adobe Acrobat Portable

Document Format (PDF) files as digital deliverables when furnished by the Government.)

PROOFS: Three (3) sets of digital color content proofs of the entire publication. Direct to plate must be used to 

produce the final product with a minimum of 2400 x 2400 dpi. Proofs must be created using the same Raster Image 

Processor (RIP) that will be used to produce the product. Proofs shall be collated with all elements in proper position 

(not pasted up), imaged face and back, trimmed and folded to the finished size of the product. 

One (1) set of digital one-piece composite laminated halftone proofs on the actual production stock (Kodak Approval, 

Polaroid PolaProof, CreoSpectrum, or Fuji Final Proof) with a minimum resolution of 2400 x 2400 dpi for the entire 

publication. 

At contractor’s option, One (1) set of inkjet proofs that are G7 profiled and use pigment-based inks may be submitted in 

lieu of digital one-piece composite laminated halftone proofs. A proofing RIP that provides an option for high quality 

color matching such as Device Links Technology and/or ICC Profiles Technology, and meets or exceeds industry 

tolerance to ISO 12647-7 standard for Graphic Technology (as of 2016 and future amendments) must be utilized. 

Proofs must be ripped and sent at plate resolution (minimum of 2400 x 2400 dpi). If using a 1 bit tiff, the tiff must be 

made at a minimum of 2400 dpi. Output must be a minimum of 2400 x 1200 dpi on a GRACoL or SWOP certified 

proofing media. Proofs must contain both of the following to be evaluated for accuracy: 3-tier color control strip: 

IDEAlliance ISO 12647-7 2013(i1), and the GPO Resolution target found www.gpo.gov/gporestarget.pdf NOTE: At 

any point during the term of this contract, if a contractor chooses this proof option, prior evaluation and approval of this 

proofing method must be provided by GPO, Quality Control for Published Products, to ensure that the final product 

will be produced in accordance with contract specifications. See instructions at: https://www.gpo.gov/docs/defaultsource/forms-and-standards-files-for-vendors/qlsamples6f200c30b44a64308413ff00001d133d.pdf. Failure to obtain 

this evaluation and approval may be cause for the job to be rejected should the final product not match the proofs for 

color.

Proofs must contain color control bars (such as Brunner, GATF, GRETAG, or RIT) for each color of ink on the sheet. 

Control bars must be placed parallel to the press’s ink rollers and must show areas consisting of minimum 1/8 x 1/8” 

solid color patches; tint patches of 25, 50 and 75%; dot gain scale; and gray balance patches for process color (if 

applicable). These areas must be repeated consecutively across the sheet. 
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The make and model number of the proofing system utilized shall be furnished with the proofs. These proofs must 

contain all elements, be in press configuration, and indicate margins. Proofs will be used for color match on press. 

Direct to plate must be used to produce the final product with a minimum of 2400 x 2400 dpi.

When corrections are required, One (1) “Press Quality” PDF soft proof (for content only) using the same Raster Image 

Processor (RIP) that will be used to produce the final printed product. PDF proof will be evaluated for text flow, image 

position, and color breaks. Proof will not be used for color match. Proofs will be transferred to the agency via email. 

If any contractor’s errors are serious enough in the opinion of the GPO to require revised proofs, the revised proofs are 

to be provided at no expense to the Government. No extra time can be allowed for this reproofing; such operations 

must be accomplished within the original production schedule allotted in the specifications.

The contractor must not print prior to receipt of an “O.K. to Print.”

STOCK/PAPER: The specifications of all paper furnished must be in accordance with those listed herein or listed for 

the corresponding JCP Code numbers in the “Government Paper Specification Standards No. 13” dated September 

2019. Government Paper Specification Standards No. 13 - https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-andstandards-files-for-vendors/vol_13.pdf.

All paper used in each order must be of a uniform shade

White Matte-Coated Text, basis weight: 70 lbs. per 500 sheets, 25 x 38”, equal to JCP Code A240.

PRINTING: Print head-to-head in four-color process and one Pantone color. Facing pages print to and must align 

across the bind. Contractor to match Pantone number indicated on the print order.

NOTE: Pantone color must be printed as a fifth color (solid color). No process builds allowed.

Orders must be printed on a press capable of printing five (5) colors in a single pass through the press (minimum five 

(5) printing units). 

PRESS SHEET INSPECTION: Final makeready press sheets may be inspected and approved at the contractor’s plant 

for the purpose of establishing specified standards for use during the actual press run. Upon approval of the sheets, 

contractor is charged with maintaining those standards throughout the press run (within QATAP tolerances when 

applicable) and with discarding all makeready sheets that preceded approval. When a press sheet inspection is required, 

it will be specified on the individual print order. See GPO Publication 315.3 (Guidelines for Contractors Holding Press 

Sheet Inspections) issued January 2015. NOTE: A press sheet inspection is for the purpose of setting specific standards 

that are to be maintained throughout the entire run. It does not constitute a prior approval of the entire run.

Press sheets must contain control bars for each color of ink on the sheet. Control bars must be placed parallel to the 

press’s ink rollers. The control bars (such as BRUNNER, GATF, GRETAG, or RIT) must show areas consisting of 1/8 

x 1/8” minimum solid color patches; tint patches of 25, 50, and 75%; dot gain scale; and gray balance patches for 

process color (if applicable). These areas must be repeated across the entire press sheet. 

Viewing Light: Press sheets will be viewed under controlled conditions with 5000 degrees Kelvin overhead luminaries. 

The viewing conditions must conform to ISO 3664-2009. A viewing booth under controlled conditions with 5000 

degrees Kelvin overhead luminaries with neutral gray surroundings must be provided.

MARGINS: Unless otherwise specified, maintain margins as indicated on electronic media. Contractor can expect 

bleed pages scattered throughout.

BINDING: Saddle-wire stitch in two places and trim three sides. Each product must contain complete four-page 

signatures after trimming. Single leaves connected with a lip (i.e., binding stub) to left or right side of stitches will not 

be allowed.
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At contractor’s option, contractor may paste on fold and trim three sides. NOTE: Press trimming is acceptable.

PACKING: Pack in suitable shipping containers not to exceed 45 pounds when fully packed.

All shipments which fill less than a shipping container must be packaged with materials of sufficient strength and 

durability and in such a manner which will guarantee that the product will not be damaged and the package will not 

open nor split during the delivery process.

LABELING AND MARKING: Contractor to download the “Labeling and Marking Specifications” form (GPO 

Form 905, Rev. 7-15) from GPO.gov, fill in appropriate blanks, and attach to shipping containers. 

For the overnight shipments, the contractor will be required to create and affix an address label to each shipping 

container. At contractor’s option, the addresses can be imaged directly on to each shipping container.

DEPARTMENTAL RANDOM COPIES (BLUE LABEL): All orders must be divided into equal sublots in 

accordance with the chart below. A random copy must be selected from each sublot. Do not choose copies from the 

same general area in each sublot. The contractor will be required to certify that the copies were selected as directed 

using GPO Form 917 – Certificate of Selection of Random Copies which can be located on GPO.gov. The random 

copies constitute a part of the total quantity ordered, and no additional charge will be allowed.

Quantity Number of 

 Ordered Sublots 

500 - 3,200 50

3,201 - 10,000 80

10,001 - 35,000 125

35,001 and over 200

These randomly selected copies must be packed separately and identified by a special label, GPO Form 2678 –

Departmental Random Copies (Blue Label), which must be printed on blue paper and affixed to each affected 

container. This form can be downloaded from GPO.gov. The container and its contents shall be recorded separately on 

all shipping documents and sent to: National Institutes of Health, NIH Record Office, Building 31, Room 5B41, 9000 

Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892.

A copy of the print order/specification and a signed Government-furnished certificate of selection must be included.

A copy of the Government-furnished certificate must accompany the invoice sent to the U.S. Government Publishing

Office, Financial Management Service, for payment. Failure to furnish the certificate may result in delay in processing 

the invoice.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE RANDOM COPIES: In addition to the Departmental Random Copies (Blue Label), the 

contractor may be required to submit quality assurance random copies to test for compliance against the specifications. 

The print order will indicate the number required, if any. When ordered, the contractor must divide the entire order into 

equal sublots and select a copy from a different general area of each sublot. The contractor will be required to certify 

that the copies were selected as directed using GPO Form 917-Certificate of Selection of Random Copies (located on 

GPO.gov). Copies will be paid for at the running rate offered in the contractor’s bid and their cost will not be a 

consideration for award. A copy of the print order must be included with the samples. 

Business Reply Mail labels will be furnished for mailing the quality assurance random copies. The copies are to be 

mailed at the same time as the first scheduled shipment. A U.S. Postal Service approved Certificate of Mailing, 

identified by program, jacket, and print order numbers must be furnished with billing as evidence of mailing.

DISTRIBUTION: 

 Deliver f.o.b. destination the majority of each order to approximately five (5) addresses within the commercial 

zone of Washington, DC. Inside delivery to room number specified is required. 

 Deliver f.o.b. destination approximately 15 to 20 copies (Depository/File copies) to approximately two (2) 

addresses within the commercial of Washington, DC.

 Deliver f.o.b. destination (via FedEx Overnight) to the following two (2) destinations:

o 20 copies to: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Public Affairs, Attn: Ken Pekoc, 903 South 4th Street, 

Hamilton, MT 59840.

o 100 copies to: NIA/Gerontology Research Center, Biomedical Research Center, Suite 100, 251 Bayview 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21224.

Complete addresses and quantities will be furnished with each print order.

Upon completion of each order, contractor must notify the ordering agency (on the same day the order delivers) via 

email to the address indicated on the print order. The subject line of the email shall be “Distribution Notice for Program 

43-S, Print Order XXXXX, Jacket Number XXX-XXX.” The notice must provide all applicable tracking numbers, 

delivery methods, and title of product. Contractor must be able to provide copies of all delivery receipts upon agency 

request.

Upon completion of each order, digital deliverables must be returned to: National Institutes of Health, NIH Record 

Office, Building 31, Room 5B41, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892.

All expenses incidental to submitting proofs and furnishing sample copies must be borne by the contractor.

SCHEDULE: Adherence to this schedule must be maintained. Contractor must not start production of any job prior to 

receipt of the individual print order (GPO Form 2511).

Print order and furnished material will be furnished via FTP on alternate Thursdays.

All required proofs must be delivered to and picked up from: National Institutes of Health, NIH Record Office, 

Building 31, Room 5B41, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892.

When required, PDF soft proofs must be emailed to the email address specified on the print order.

Contractor must complete production and distribution within an 8-calendar day timeframe (from Thursday to the 

following Thursday) as follows:

Thursday (by 12:00 noon): Contractor to receive Government furnished material via contractor hosted FTP site

Friday (by 10:00 a.m.): Contractor to submit proofs.
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Monday (by 10:00 a.m.): Contractor to pick up proofs.

Monday (by 3:00 p.m.): Contractor to submit revised PDF proofs (when AA’s are made by the ordering 

agency).

Monday (by 4:30 p.m.): Government to notify contractor of “O.K. to Print.”

Thursday (by 10:00 a.m.): Contractor must complete production and distribution.

NOTE: It is anticipated that each order will have up to approximately 4 hours of system timework due to 

author’s alterations of approximately 35 pictures requiring adjustments and minor type corrections

throughout. There is an exception to GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2) in that no additional time

will be given to complete production and distribution due to overheld proofs or author’s alterations.

Premium Payment: If the Government fails to give an “O.K. to Print” by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the contractor may 

charge for a premium payment in order to meet the scheduled delivery date of Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Premium 

payments will be paid at the percentage offered in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES” (Item III.).

In the event that a Federal holiday falls on a scheduled pickup or distribution date, the pickup or distribution will 

resume the following workday (Friday).

The contractor must notify the GPO of the date and time the press sheet inspection can be performed. In order for 

proper arrangements to be made, notification must be given at least five (5) workdays prior to the inspection. Notify the 

U.S. Government Publishing Office, Quality Control for Published Products, Washington, DC 20401, or telephone area 

code (202) 512-0542. Telephone calls will only be accepted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, prevailing Eastern Time. NOTE: See contract clauses, paragraph 14(e)(1), Inspections and Tests of 

GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2, effective December 1, 1987 (Rev. 01-18)). When supplies are not ready 

at the time specified by the contractor for inspection, the Contracting Officer may charge to the contractor the additional 

cost of the inspection

The ship/deliver date indicated on the print order is the date products ordered for delivery f.o.b. destination must be 

delivered to the destinations specified.

Unscheduled material such as shipping documents, receipts or instructions, delivery lists, labels, etc., will be furnished 

with each order or shortly thereafter. In the event such information is not received in due time, the contractor will not 

be relieved of any responsibility in meeting the shipping schedule because of failure to request such information.

For compliance reporting purposes, contractors are to report information regarding each order with date of shipment or 

delivery, as applicable, in accordance with the contract requirements by contacting the Publishing Support Services 

Compliance Section via email at compliance@gpo.gov, via telephone at (202) 512-0520, or via facsimile at (202) 512-

1364. Personnel receiving the email, call, or facsimile will be unable to respond to questions of a technical nature or to 

transfer any inquiries.
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SECTION 3. - DETERMINATION OF AWARD

The Government will determine the lowest bid by applying the prices offered in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES” to the 

following units of production which are the estimated requirements to produce one (1) year’s production under this 

contract. These units do not constitute, nor are they to be construed as, a guarantee of the volume of work which may 

be ordered for a like period of time.

NOTE: The Determination of Award estimates specified below are based on historical data; however, due to the 

current global Pandemic, the contractor is put on notice that the estimated amounts of work anticipated on this 

contract may be significantly impacted during the first period of performance.

PREMIUM PAYMENTS: When the Government fails to give an “O.K. to Print” on proofs in accordance with the

“SCHEDULE” specified herein, orders will be paid for at the premium rate in accordance with the contractor’s offered 

percentage in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES.”

All other orders will be placed and paid for at the basic prices offered.

Percentages offered for premium priced work are additional to the basic prices offered for units of work. Premium 

payments for late “O.K. to Print,” when required, will apply to all items in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES.”

Failure of the contractor to deliver work at the time specified will result in disallowance of premium payments that were 

anticipated and the contractor will not list such items on their billing invoice.

It is estimated that 15% of all orders placed on this contract will require a premium payment due to the agency failing to 

give an “O.K. to Print” in accordance with the “SCHEDULE.” Premium payments for late “O.K. to Print” will be 

evaluated for award. Evaluation will be effected by applying the percentage increase offered in the “SCHEDULE OF 

PRICES” (Item III.) to 15% of the prices offered for all items. 

The following item designations correspond to those listed in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES.”

I. 65

(1) (2) 

II. 312 2,509
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SECTION 4. - SCHEDULE OF PRICES

Bids offered are f.o.b. destination.

Prices must include the cost of all required materials and operations for each item listed in accordance with these 

specifications.

Bidder must make an entry in each of the spaces provided. Bids submitted with any blank spaces or with any 

obliteration, revision, or alteration of the order and manner of submitting bids may be declared nonresponsive.

An entry of NC (No Charge) shall be entered if bidder intends to furnish individual items at no charge to the 

Government.

Bids submitted with NB (No Bid), NA (Not Applicable) or blank spaces for an item may be declared nonresponsive.

The Contracting Officer reserves the right to reject any offer that contains prices for individual items of production 

(whether or not such items are included in the DETERMINATION OF AWARD) that are inconsistent or unrealistic in 

regard to other prices in the same offer or to GPO prices for the same operation if such action would be in the best 

interest of the Government.

All invoices submitted to the GPO shall be based on the most economical method of production. Fractional parts of 

1,000 will be prorated at the per-1,000 rate.

Contractor’s billing invoice must be itemized in accordance with the line items in the “SCHEDULE OF 

PRICES.”

A charge will be allowed for each page, whether printed or blank. Unless otherwise specified, no more than three (3) 

blank pages shall be permitted at the end of the text.

I. PREPRESS OPERATIONS:

System Timework.....................................................................................................per hour......$______________

Electronic timework that cannot be properly classified under any other item shall be charged as “System 

Timework.” Any charge made under “System Timework” must be supported by a statement outlining in detail the 

operation for which payment is claimed. In case of a dispute, the Contracting Officer reserves the right to be the 

final judge as to the operation and/or number of hours chargeable under Item I.

II. PRINTING, BINDING, PACKING, AND DISTRIBUTION: Prices offered shall include the cost of all required 

materials and operations necessary (including paper and proofs) for the complete printing, binding, packing, and 

distribution of the product listed in accordance with these specifications.

 

Makeready Running per

and/or Setup 1,000 Copies

(1) (2)

Per Page.......................................................................................................$___________ $__________

III. PREMIUM PAYMENTS: Premium payments, when authorized, will apply to all items. Percentage increase will 

be added to all orders for which the Government issues a late “O.K. to Print.”

Percentage increase .................................................................................................................... ____________%

 _______________

 (Initials)
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THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
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SHIPMENTS: Shipments will be made from: City ________________________ State ____________________.

The city(ies) indicated above will be used for evaluation of transportation charges when shipment f.o.b. contractor’s city is

specified. If no shipping point is indicated above, it will be deemed that the bidder has selected the city and state shown 

below in the address block, and the bid will be evaluated and the contract awarded on that basis. If shipment is not made 

from evaluation point, the contractor will be responsible for any additional shipping costs incurred.

DISCOUNTS: Discounts are offered for payment as follows: ___________ Percent ___________ Calendar Days. See 

Article 12 “Discounts” of Solicitations Provisions in GPO Contract Terms (Publication 310.2).

AMENDMENT(S): Bidder hereby acknowledges amendment(s) number(ed) ____________________________.

BID ACCEPTANCE PERIOD: In compliance with the above, the undersigned agree, if this bid is accepted within 

____________ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the bidder) from the date for receipt 

of bids, to furnish the specified items at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), in exact 

accordance with specifications. 

NOTE: Failure to provide a 60-day bid acceptance period may result in expiration of the bid prior to award.

BIDDER’S NAME AND SIGNATURE: Unless specific written exception is taken, the bidder, by signing and submitting 

a bid, agrees with and accepts responsibility for all certifications and representations as required by the solicitation and GPO 

Contract Terms – Publication 310.2. When responding by email, fill out and return one completed copy of all applicable 

pages that include the Jacket Number, Bid Price, Additional Rate, Discounts, Amendments, Bid Acceptance Period, and 

Bidder’s Name and Signature, including signing where indicated. Valid electronic signatures will be accepted in accordance 

with the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, § 2. Electronic signatures must be verifiable of the person authorized by the 

company to sign bids. 

Failure to sign the signature block below may result in the bid being declared non-responsive. 

Bidder _____________________________________________________________________________________

 (Contractor’s Name) (GPO Contractor’s Code)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 (Street Address)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

 (City – State – Zip Code)

By _________________________________________________________________________________________

(Signature and Title of Person Authorized to Sign this Bid) (Date)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(Printed Name) (Telephone Number)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

(Email) (Fax Number)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

THIS SECTION FOR GPO USE ONLY

Certified by: __________ Date: __________ Contracting Officer: __________ Date: __________

(Initials) (Initials)

____________________________________________________________________________________________