GPO Quality Control for Published Products 

Quality Level Sample Submission Procedures 

Evaluation Process 

The purpose of the evaluation by Quality Control for Published Products (QCPP) is to determine a vendor’s 

ability to consistently produce orders at the required quality level without undue assistance on the part of the 

Government. These ratings will be used by our Automated Bid List System in determining who solicitations 

will be sent to and by our Contracting Offcers as an aid in making responsibility determinations on individual 

contracts. Receipt of a rating will in no case guarantee the award of any specifc contract or prevent bidding 

on others. 

Samples will be evaluated based on the printing and fnishing attributes and specifc quality level tolerances 

found in GPO Contract Terms Quality Assurance Through Attributes Program, GPO Publication 310.1. 

https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-files-for-vendors/qatap-rev-09-19.pdf 

GPO will notify contractors of the rating they have received and identify any causes for receipt of a rating lower 

than that desired. Contractors may resubmit samples at any time. After evaluation, materials will remain at 

GPO for reference. Submission through third parties will not be accepted. 

Evaluation Sample Package 

■ Evaluation Sample Certifcate GPO Form 2689

https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-files-for-vendors/gpo2689.pdf

■ A minimum of three jobs that have been printed within the last six months.

■ Contractor Connection company registration showing location information and equipment list.

■ Send to the following address (tracking recommended):

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Quality Level Samples

Mail Stop CSPS, Rm. C-613

732 North Capitol Street, NW

Washington, DC 20401

202.512.0542

To avoid additional restrictions on your Quality Level rating, the samples should represent a cross section of 

the type of work that the contractor would like to produce. The samples should include, at a minimum, fourcolor, spot color, solids, screens (single color and/or builds), halftones, and/or line work. Submitting samples 

only containing line work will result in QCPP recommending award for only line work and not for solids, 

halftones, multi-color, and/or four-color process. 

Submitting for Digital Printing 

Highest possible rating: Quality Level 3 

Each of the three jobs must include the following: 

■■ The original electronic media, when available.

■■ Three copies of the fnished product trimmed, folded, or constructed labeled with production date

Jobs that allow for digital printing and require proofs will specify a prior to production sample (one-off). 

Therefore, to be evaluated for digital printing, only fnished samples are required. 

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Submitting for Offset Printing 

Each of the three jobs must include the following: 

■■ The original electronic media, when available.

■■ The approved proof, must meet one of the requirements below, labeled with equipment used to

produce it. Proofs must have all elements in press confguration and must indicate margins. Proofs

will be used to gauge success of color match to press sheet.

■■ The approved press sheet, labeled with equipment used to produce it. Press sheets must contain

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

slur targets and gray balance patches for process color (if applicable). These areas must be repeated

consecutively across the sheet. Plates must be output with a minimum of 2400 x 2400 dpi.

■■ Three copies of the fnished product trimmed, folded, or constructed labeled with production date

Ink Jet Proofs (Highest possible rating: Quality Level 2) 

Inkjet proofs that are G7 profled and use pigment-based inks. A proofng RIP that provides option for 

high quality color matching (such as Device Links Technology and/or ICC Profles Technology), and meets 

or exceeds industry tolerance to ISO 12647-7 Standard for Graphic Technology (as of 3/19/09 and future 

amendments) must be utilized plus GRACoL 2006 Coated #1 specifcations (CGATS TR006) must be 

achieved. Output must be a minimum of 720 x 720 dpi on a GRACoL or SWOP certifed proofng media. 

Proofs must contain the following color control strip to be evaluated for accuracy: IDEAlliance ISO 12647-

7 Control Strip 2009 or 2013 (i1). 

High Res Laminated Proofs (Highest possible rating: Quality Level 1) 

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. 

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; slur targets; 

and gray balance patches for process color (if applicable). These areas must be repeated consecutively 

across the sheet. Proofs must show dot structure. 

High Res Ink Jet Proofs (Highest possible rating: Quality Level 1) 

Inkjet proofs that are G7 profled and use pigment-based inks. A proofng RIP that provides an option for 

high quality color matching such as Device Links Technology and/or ICC Profles 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 certifed proofng 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 

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The acceptance criteria for the GPO Resolution target: 

2) CMYK Blocks: Line 3) Targets: Must be

pattern must be visible. clear and defned from 50 to 400. 

1 

1

2 3 4000 3800 3600 3400 3200 3000 32800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800

5

1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600

6

400 300 200 100 75 50 7

9

10

4 

.25 Helvetica .25 Helvetica 

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

Arial 2.5 2.5 Arial 1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 

Helvetica 1.5 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 

1 Arial 1 Arial

.5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial .25 Arial Helvetica 2.5 2.5 Helvetica

.25 Helvetica .25 Helvetica

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

Arial 2.5 2.5 Arial 1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 

Helvetica 1.5 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 

1 Arial 1 Arial 

.5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial .25 Arial Helvetica 2.5 2.5 Helvetica

.25 Helvetica .25 Helvetica 

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

Arial 2.5 2.5 Arial 1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 

Helvetica 1.5 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 

1 Arial 1 Arial

.5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial .25 Arial Helvetica 2.5 2.5 Helvetica

.25 Helvetica .25 Helvetica

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

Arial 2.5 2.5 Arial 1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 

Helvetica 1.5 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 

1 Arial 1 Arial 

.5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial .25 Arial Helvetica 2.5 2.5 Helvetica

4) 1 Point Type: 

Must be legible. 1) Vertical Bar: Lines must be 

clear and defned from 2 to 8. 8

4

veti . ica .25 Hel 25 Helvet 

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

.25 Helvetica 

2.5 Arial ca 

1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 2.5 Arial 1 Helvetica 

1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 6 1 Arial 1 Arial .5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial 2.5 Helvetica 2.5 Helvetica .25 Arial 2.5 Helvetica 

.25 vetica 

2.5 Arial 2.5 Arial 4 Hel . ica 25 Helvet .25 Helvetica 

.5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica .5 Helvetica 

1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 1 Helvetica 

1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 

2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1 Arial 

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 56

25 Helvet 

.5 Helvetica 2.5 Arial . ica 

1 Helvetica 2.5 Arial 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 1 Arial .5 Arial 

1 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial 2.5 Helvetica .25 Arial 

2.5 Arial 25 Helvet 

.5 Helvetica 

. ica 

1 Helvetica 2.5 Arial 2 Arial 1.5 Helvetica 2 Arial 1.5 Arial 2 Helvetica 1.5 Arial 

2 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 1 Arial 2.5 Helvetica .

1 Arial 1 Arial .5 Arial 2.5 Helvetica .25 Arial 2.5 Helvetica 2.5 Helvetica .5 Arial .5 Arial 

.25 Arial 

.5 Arial 

25 .25 Arial Arial 

4) 1 Point Type: 5) All rule patterns: Must be clear 

Must be legible. and defned from 1 to 10. 

This is the GPO Resolution Target, it must be imaged at 100%, along with the Idealliance G-7 Target on all 

proofs. To ensure your proof is acceptable for Hi-Resolution Ink Jet, it must pass the following criteria: 

1) Vertical Bar: Lines must be clear and defned from 2 to 8.

2) CMYK Blocks: Line pattern must be visible.

3) Targets: Must be clear and defned from 50 to 400.

4) 1 Point Type: must be legible.

5) All rule patterns: Must be clear and defned from 1 to 10.

6) GPO Use: Targets provided by Printing Industries of America.

Submitting Test Proof 

Proofs submitted that do not meet requirements will not be evaluated, samples will be rated for print 

quality only. In order to gain a quality level rating without the caveat, the IDEAlliance ISO 12647-7 Control 

Strip 2009 or 2013 must pass when scanned. GPO uses an X-Rite i1i0 scanner with FujiFilm ColorPath 

software to scan the targets. If interested, a test proof may be sent in prior to submitting an entire 

package for evaluation. GPO will scan the target and provide the results via email. 

Send the proof and contact information to (tracking recommended): 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

Quality Level Test Proof 

Mail Stop CSPS, Rm. C-613

732 North Capitol Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20401 

202.512.0542 

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