Updated: 12/20/2016.v03 

1 

 Specifications for Property 18846-8 

Black Woven Book Cover Material

General Requirements 

Suitable for use as a cover material for travel documents able to accept heat stamping of imitation gold foil; 

running on the Government Publishing Office (GPO) automatic binding equipment. Stock will be used in an 

air-conditioned production area maintained at 24 ± 3 o

C and 45 ± 10 % relative humidity. Stock shall remain 

stable and usable throughout the ambient conditions listed. 

All submissions will be evaluated using a 2 phase system. Each phase must be passed in order to place a cover 

material on the Qualified Products List (QPL). All materials will require Phase 1 analysis at least once a year or 

more often if deemed necessary to remain on the QPL. 

Specific Requirements: 

PROPERTY LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS (PHASE 1) METHOD 

Composition 

Cover material shall be 100% cotton fabric impregnated with pyroxylin, 

acrylic, polyurethane, or other non-migratory resin that accepts pressure stamp 

easily and is uniform in coating composition. 

Manufacturer’s Data / 

Method A 

Thickness Average, inch (±10%) 

(mm) 

0.014 

(0.35) ASTM D1777 

Weave Drill 2 / 1 Method A 

Weight Average, finished cover, oz/yd2 (g/m2

) +10% 

Minimum, base cloth, oz/yd2 (g/m2) +10% 

10 (340) 

5 (170) T-410 

Thread count Per in2 (cm2) 100 (40) ASTM D3775 

Breaking strength 

Minimum Warp / Filling, lb/in 

(kN/m) 

80 / 50 

(14 / 8.8) ASTM D5035 

Stiffness Average, finished cover, Gurley Unit: MD ± 500 

 CD ± 250 

1500 

750 T-543, Note-(1) 

Porosity Minimum, seconds 15 T-460 

Gloss (75o) Average, finished cover, Gloss Units, + 5.0 20.0 T-480 

Fade resistance Maximum color deviation after fade testing for 168 

hours, delta E (CIELAB) 1.0 ASTM G155, Table X3.1, Cycle 11-Note (2) 

Surface and 

coating 

Cover material shall be soft and pliable but not oily; surface shall not crack 

when bent sharply. The back surface shall be receptive to a water-based 

polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesive used to bond the end sheet. The top 

surface shall withstand the lamination process. When stretched, the surface 

coating shall show no defects 

Method C 

Abrasion Cover material surface shall show no wear at 200 revolutions. ASTM D3884-Note (3) 

Color 

AND 

Color deviation 

Cover material topside shall be black to match 

established standard. (For information, the color 

coordinates are) 

(L*=25.4 

a*= 0.1 

b*= -1.0) 

ASTM D 2244 

Note (4) 

Maximum, delta E (CIELAB) 1.0 
Updated: 12/20/2016.v03 

2 

Specifications for Property 18846-8 

Black Woven Book Cover Material

Finish Cover material shall be uniform in appearance, free of blemishes or defects 

and visually identical to current QPL cover material. Method A-Note (5) 

Size Average sheet, inches (mm), 

tolerance +1/16" (2 mm) 

16-7/16 

by 7-7/16 

(418 x 189) 

Method B 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall be able to cleanly accept foil stamping using the 

current qualified foil. Method E 

Trim Cover material shall trim with out fraying Method F 

Curl Cover material shall lie flat on a piece of glass. Method D 

Ply Cover material shall be single ply Method A 

Grain (Warp) Cover material warp shall be in the long direction Method A 

Blocking Cover material shall not stick together ASTM D6116-Note (6) 

PROPERTY FUNCTIONAL TEST REQUIREMENTS (PHASE 2) METHOD 

Functional Test 

A Phase 2 test shall be performed for the cover material to evaluate 

performance on the GPO bindery equipment using a measure of production 

performance vs. cover material production defects. 

Sample Quantity = 9000 sheets trimmed to size requirements 

Method G 

Stiffness Cover material shall have appropriate stiffness to feed properly on the 

automatic binding equipment. Method G 

Trim Cover material shall not fray when cut to size or trimmed with a die cutter. Method G 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall accept foil stamping from the bindery production 

equipment using current stamping foil. Method G 

Durability Analysis 

Test Cover in book format will be evaluated for the ISO method 9.2 

Physical Durability Requirements (Cover Only) using the ISO method 

listed. The Analysis sequences to be evaluated are Storage, Thermal Shock, 

Back Pocket, Dynamic Bend, Torsion and Sheet Binding (Cover Only). 

ISO18745-1 

(Note 7) 

Testing and References 

Testing shall be conducted in accordance with cited methods. ASTM methods are available from the American 

Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 or through the 

website: http://www.astm.org/. Test methods designated T-XXX or TIS may be obtained from TAPPI 15 

Technology Parkway S, Norcross, GA 30092 or at the website: http://www.tappi.org/

Note (1): TAPPI, T- 543 Gurley Stiffness method using a 2.5” x 2” (length x width) cover material sample with 

a 25 gram weight at 4”. 

Note (2): Test system uses a Xenon air cooled lamp at 765 W/m2/nm for 168 hours. 

Note (3): Use 500-gram counter weights and Calibrase CS-10 mild green abrasion wheels. Run four samples, 

each to 200 revolutions. Compare samples to established standard for the cover material. Verify if coating is 

uniform to baseline by single beam Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. 
Updated: 12/20/2016.v03 

3 

Specifications for Property 18846-8 

Black Woven Book Cover Material 

Note (4): Color testing conditions and metrics are as follows: CIELAB color space, Illuminant D65, 10o 

observer and specular component in. The color curve is provided for information only. 

Note (5): A match to the current embossing pattern shall not be required for Phase 1 laboratory testing. All 

cover material for Phase 2 functional testing shall be required to match the current embossing pattern prior to 

beginning Phase 2 testing. 

Note (6): Use an 11-pound (5-kg) weight, place 4 samples (front to front, back to front and back to back) 

between blotting boards and evaluate for blocking after 24 hours in the temperature and humidity conditions 

states. 

Note (7): The physical evaluation will be performed after each stress method for Phase 2 testing only. No chip 

analysis will be performed in Phase 2. The cover physical evaluation criteria are: 

 No damage is visible to the sample book spine post durability analysis. 

 Opening the sample book to any page does not incur any additional damage to the Cover Cloth or Cloth 

spine. 

 At least 50% of the Hot Stamp shall be intact post stress method. 

Method A: Visually assess the composition, weave, finish and ply against the established standard. Machine 

Direction (MD or Warp) thread shall be perpendicular to Cross Direction (CD or Weft) thread. Report as OK or 

Unacceptable 

Method B: Use an appropriate scaled measuring implement. Report results to the nearest millimeter (1/16”). 

Report as Equal or Not equal. 

Method C: Personalization: The material shall pass through the State Department personalization equipment 

with no damage to the coating and withstand temperature up to 177oC (350oF) for a period of 45 seconds. 

Scratches or marks on the surface of the cover material resulting from the personalization process shall 

constitute failure of the test. Report as OK or Unacceptable.

Adhesion of coating to the base stock: The coating of a 6 by 6-inch (150 by 150-mm) sample cut 45 degrees to 

the warp or filling direction when clamped between 1 by 2-inch jaws under a load of 30 pounds (13.5 kg) for 30 

seconds shall show no cracks, breaks, or pinholes. Report as OK or Unacceptable. 
Updated: 12/20/2016.v03 

4 

Specifications for Property 18846-8 

Black Woven Book Cover Material 

Method D: Cover material shall be evaluated as it rests on a pane of glass in a temperature and humidity 

controlled room using the conditions listed under the general section as well as the size requirements. Cover 

material shall be acclimated for 24 hours prior to the start of evaluation. Cover material shall sit on the glass for 

24 hours before evaluation is conducted. Total time prior to evaluation will be 48 hours. Cover material will be 

acceptable if there are no obvious variations of the edge to glass and no noticeable curl problems with the 

sample sheets. Report as OK or Unacceptable

Method E: Stamping will be performed using a sample pamphlet stamp. Lab test will be conducted using 

bindery stamping press and control foil against a standard sample of cover material and foil. Three samples will 

be prepared and compared to the current cover material. Test samples shall not show flaking and cover material 

coating will accept foil stamp cleanly. Foil shall not flake after 200 revolutions (as listed in the abrasion 

requirement). Report as OK or Unacceptable. 

Method F: A stack of 25 sample sheets shall be cut using a trimming/cutting machine. The cover material shall 

not fray when trimmed. The cover material coating shall not be distorted nor shall the test sheets block. A 

sample is acceptable if the above criteria are met when comparing to a current QPL sample. Report as OK or

Unacceptable. 

Method G: For a new cover material to be acceptable for inclusion on the QPL, the test cover material must 

perform equal to the current QPL cover material. The Phase 2 will be conducted using 9000 sheets trimmed to 

size requirements. The cover material will be tested only after a successful completion of Phase 1. During the 

test, cover material will be evaluated for defects of general appearance before and after production, book spine 

integrity, stiffness, general feeding ability, appearance of stamp after stamping, trimming/die cutting, as well as 

all laboratory analysis. Report as OK or Unacceptable.

Qualified Products

All products shall conform to the above specifications. Successful completion of both phases is required in order to 

be added to the QPL. The two phases are 1) laboratory testing of samples and 2) functional testing of cover material 

plus laboratory analysis. GPO shall notify sample submitter of test results and testing progress. In order for a 

product to be added to the QPL, the product shall meet all specification requirements for qualification. 

Awards will be predicated on the use of a product listed below or on a product, which prior to the time set for 

opening of bids, has been tested and approved. The Contractor shall notify the GPO if there are changes to the 

production processes, manufacturing equipment, or vendors of raw materials. 

The current Black Woven Book Cover Material (18846-8) on the QPL:

Holliston LLC, H type, No. 19990 (820125) 

Holliston LLC, T type, No. 19990 (820879) 
Updated: 12/20/2016.v03 

5 

Specifications for Property 18846-8 

Black Woven Book Cover Material 

Sample Requirement 

All solicitations require approval of the contracting officer prior to shipping of samples. Contact information is 

listed below. 

Acquisition Services 

Chief, General and Paper Procurement 

(202) 512-2022 

Bidder shall submit 100 sheets for Phase 1 laboratory testing that are representative of the process in the specified 

size for testing and evaluation. When approved for Phase 2 functional testing, bidder shall submit 9,000 sheets 

trimmed to Size requirements. The samples shall be submitted with an original signed and dated cover document 

with the following information: 

(A) Solicitation number, (B) Marked as QPL samples, (C) Brand name and specific product identification number 

and (D) Product data sheet showing the typical properties of the product. 

For qualification testing/evaluation, send samples to the address listed below: 

U.S. Government Printing Office 

Attn: Chief, Testing and Technical Services 

44 H Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20401

Packaging of Approved Product 

Product shall be supplied as sheets on a pallet. The sheets on the bottom of the pallet shall be protected from 

damage caused by the boards or nails in the boards. The sheets shall be completely and securely wrapped to protect 

from moisture or other environmental influences. Wrapping material shall be heavy weight Kraft paper, laminated 

paper, or heavy corrugated paper. The cover material sheets shall be flush to the edge of the skid with no overhang 

to avoid damage to the sheets. 

The pallets shall be banded 4 ways. The bands shall leave no crimp marks on the sheets or other damage that could 

adversely affect the quality of the finished pamphlets. The total weight of the pallets shall not exceed 2,500 pounds 

(1,200 kg). The pallets shall be made from solid pieces of wood; not from pieces of wood nailed together. 

Each pallet shall have 10 lifts or layers; each lift containing 3,000 sheets; each 3,000-sheet lift consisting of 10 

bundles of 300 sheets per bundle. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

 1 

Specifications for Property 29455-1 

Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material

General Requirements 

Suitable for use as a cover material for travel documents able to accept heat stamping of imitation gold foil; 

running on the Government Publishing Office (GPO) automatic binding equipment. Stock will be used in an 

air-conditioned production area maintained at 24 ± 3 o

C and 45 ± 10 % relative humidity. Stock shall remain 

stable and useable throughout the ambient conditions listed. 

All submissions will be evaluated using a 2 phase system. Each phase must be passed in order to place a cover 

material on the Qualified Products List (QPL). All materials will require Phase 1 analysis at least once a year or 

more often if deemed necessary to remain on the QPL. 

Specific Requirements: 

PROPERTY LABORATORY REQUIREMENT (PHASE 1) METHOD 

Composition 

Cover material shall be 100% cotton fabric impregnated with pyroxylin, 

acrylic, polyurethane, or other non-migratory resin that accepts pressure stamp 

easily and is uniform in coating composition. 

Manufacturer’s Data / 

Method A 

Thickness Average, inch (±10%) 

(mm) 

0.014 

(0.35) ASTM D1777 

Weave Drill 2 / 1 Method A 

Weight Average, finished cover , oz/yd2 (g/m2

) ±10% 

Minimum, base cloth, oz/yd2 (g/m2

) ±10% 

10 (340) 

5 (170) T-410 

Thread count Per in2 (cm2) 100 (40) ASTM D3775 

Breaking strength 

Minimum Warp / Filling, lb/in 

(kN/m) 

80 / 50 

(14 / 8.8) ASTM D5035 

Stiffness Average, finished cover, Gurley Unit: MD ± 500 

 CD ± 250 

1500 

750 T-543, Note (1) 

Porosity Minimum, seconds 15 T-460 

Gloss (75o) Average, finished cover, Gloss Units, + 5.0 20.0 T-480 

Fade resistance Maximum color deviation, before and after fade testing 

for 168 hours, delta E (CIELAB) 

1.0 ASTM G155, Table X3.1, 

Cycle 11 Note (2) 

Surface and 

coating 

Cover material shall be soft and pliable but not oily; surface shall not crack 

when bent sharply. The back surface shall be receptive to a water-based 

polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesive used to bond the end sheet. The top 

surface shall withstand the lamination process. When stretched, the surface 

coating shall show no defects 

Method C 

Abrasion Cover material surface shall show no wear at 200 revolutions. ASTM D3884-Note (3) 

Color 

AND 

Color deviation 

Cover material topside shall be flag blue to match 

established standard. (For information, the color 

coordinates are) 

(L*=27.3 

a*= 0.1 

b*= -7.0) 

ASTM D 2244 

Note (4) 

Maximum, delta E (CIELAB) 1.0 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

 2 

Specifications for Property 29455-1 

Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material 

Finish Cover material shall be uniform in appearance, free of blemishes or defects 

and visually identical to current QPL cover material. Method A, Note (5) 

Size Average sheet, inches (mm), 

tolerance +1/16" (2 mm) 

16-7/16 

by 7-7/16 

(418 x 189) 

Method B 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall be able to cleanly accept foil stamping using the 

current qualified foil. Method E 

Trim Cover material shall trim with out fraying Method F 

Curl Cover material shall lie flat on a piece of glass. Method D 

Ply Cover material shall be single ply Method A 

Grain (Warp) Cover material warp shall be in the long direction Method A 

Blocking Cover material shall not stick together ASTM D6116-Note (6) 

PROPERTY FUNCTIONAL TEST REQUIREMENTS (PHASE 2) METHOD 

Functional Test 

A Phase 2 test shall be performed for the cover material to evaluate 

performance on the GPO bindery equipment using a measure of production 

performance vs. cover material production defects. 

Sample Quantity = 9000 sheets trimmed to size requirements 

Method G 

Stiffness Cover material shall have appropriate stiffness to feed properly on the 

automatic binding equipment. Method G 

Trim Cover material shall not fray when cut to size or trimmed with a die cutter. Method G 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall accept foil stamping from the bindery production 

equipment using current stamping foil. Method G 

Durability Analysis 

Test Cover in book format will be evaluated for the ISO method 9.2 

Physical Durability Requirements (Cover Only) using the ISO method 

listed. The Analysis sequences to be evaluated are Storage, Thermal Shock, 

Back Pocket, Dynamic Bend, Torsion and Sheet Binding (Cover Only). 

ISO18745-1 

(Note 7) 

Testing and References 

Testing shall be conducted in accordance with cited methods. ASTM methods are available from the American 

Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 or through the 

website: http://www.astm.org/. Test methods designated T-XXX or TIS may be obtained from TAPPI 15 

Technology Parkway S, Norcross, GA 30092 or at the website: http://www.tappi.org/

Note (1): TAPPI, T- 543 Gurley Stiffness method using a 2.5” x 2” (length x width) cover material sample with 

a 25 gram weight at 4”. 

Note (2): Test system uses a Xenon air cooled lamp at 765 W/m2/nm for 168 hours. 

Note (3): Use 500-gram counter weights and Calibrase CS-10 mild green abrasion wheels. Run four samples, 

each to 200 revolutions. Compare samples to established standard for the cover material. Verify if coating is 

uniform to baseline by single beam Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

 3 

Specifications for Property 29455-1 

Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material 

Note (4): Color testing conditions and metrics are as follows: CIELAB color space, Illuminant D65, 10o 

observer and specular component in. The color curve is provided for information only. 

Note (5): A match to the current embossing pattern shall not be required for Phase 1 laboratory testing. All 

cover material for Phase 2 functional testing shall be required to match the current embossing pattern prior to 

beginning Phase 2 testing. 

Note (6): Use an 11-pound (5-kg) weight, place 4 samples (front to front, back to front and back to back) 

between blotting boards and evaluate for blocking after 24 hours in the temperature and humidity conditions 

states. 

Note (7): The physical evaluation will be performed after each stress method for Phase 2 testing only. No chip 

analysis will be performed in Phase 2. The cover physical evaluation criteria are: 

 No damage is visible to the sample book spine post durability analysis. 

 Opening the sample book to any page does not incur any additional damage to the Cover Cloth or Cloth 

spine. 

 At least 50% of the Hot Stamp shall be intact post stress method. 

Method A: Visually assess the composition, weave, finish and ply against the established standard. Machine 

Direction (MD or Warp) thread shall be perpendicular to Cross Direction (CD or Weft) thread. Report as OK or 

Unacceptable 

Method B: Use an appropriate scaled measuring implement. Report results to the nearest millimeter (1/16”). 

Report as Equal or Not equal. 

Method C: Personalization: The material shall pass through the State Department personalization equipment 

with no damage to the coating and withstand temperature up to 177oC (350oF) for a period of 45 seconds. 

Scratches or marks on the surface of the cover material resulting from the personalization process shall 

constitute failure of the test. Report as OK or Unacceptable. 

 Adhesion of coating to the base stock: The coating of a 6 by 6-inch (150 by 150-mm) sample cut 45 degrees to 

the warp or filling direction when clamped between 1 by 2-inch jaws under a load of 30 pounds (13.5 kg) for 30 

seconds shall show no cracks, breaks, or pinholes. Report as OK or Unacceptable. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

 4 

Specifications for Property 29455-1 

Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material 

Method D: Cover material shall be evaluated as it rests on a pane of glass in a temperature and humidity 

controlled room using the conditions listed under the general section as well as the size requirements. Cover 

material shall be acclimated for 24 hours prior to the start of evaluation. Cover material shall sit on the glass for 

24 hours before evaluation is conducted. Total time prior to evaluation will be 48 hours. Cover material will be 

acceptable if there are no obvious variations of the edge to glass and no noticeable curl problems with the 

sample sheets. Report as OK or Unacceptable

Method E: Stamping will be performed using a sample pamphlet stamp. Lab test will be conducted using 

bindery stamping press and control foil against a standard sample of cover material and foil. Three samples will 

be prepared and compared to the current cover material. Test samples shall not show flaking and cover material 

coating will accept foil stamp cleanly. Foil shall not flake after 200 revolutions (as listed in the abrasion 

requirement). Report as OK or Unacceptable. 

Method F: A stack of 25 sample sheets shall be cut using a trimming/cutting machine. The cover material shall 

not fray when trimmed. The cover material coating shall not be distorted nor shall the test sheets block. A 

sample is acceptable if the above criteria are met when comparing to a current QPL sample. Report as OK or

Unacceptable. 

Method G: For a new cover material to be acceptable for inclusion on the QPL, the test cover material must 

perform equal to the current QPL cover material. The Phase 2 will be conducted using 9000 sheets trimmed to 

size requirements. The cover material will be tested only after a successful completion of Phase 1. During the 

test, cover material will be evaluated for defects of general appearance before and after production, book spine 

integrity stiffness, general feeding ability, appearance of stamp after stamping, trimming/die cutting, as well as 

all laboratory analyses. Report as OK or Unacceptable.

Qualified Products

All products shall conform to the above specifications. Successful completion of both phases is required in order to 

be added to the QPL. The two phases are 1) laboratory testing of samples and 2) functional testing of cover material 

plus laboratory analysis. GPO shall notify sample submitter of test results and testing progress. In order for a 

product to be added to the QPL, the product shall meet all specification requirements for qualification. 

Awards will be predicated on the use of a product listed below or on a product, which prior to the time set for 

opening of bids, has been tested and approved. The Contractor shall notify the GPO if there are changes to the 

production processes, manufacturing equipment, or vendors of raw materials. 

The current Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material (29455-1) on the QPL:

Holliston LLC, H type, No. 48760 (819848) 

Holliston LLC, T type, No. 48760 (820836) 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

 5 

Specifications for Property 29455-1 

Flag Blue Woven Book Cover Material 

Sample Requirement 

All solicitations require approval of the contracting officer prior to shipping. Contact information is listed below. 

Acquisition Services 

Chief, General and Paper Procurement 

(202) 512-2022 

Bidder shall submit 100 sheets for Phase 1 laboratory testing that are representative of the process in the specified 

size for testing and evaluation. When approved for Phase 2 functional testing, bidder shall submit 9,000 sheets 

trimmed to Size requirements. The samples shall be submitted with an original signed and dated cover document 

with the following information: 

(A) Solicitation number, (B) Marked as QPL samples, (C) Brand name and specific product identification number 

and (D) Product data sheet showing the typical properties of the product. 

For qualification testing/evaluation, send samples to the address listed below: 

U.S. Government Printing Office 

Attn: Chief, Testing and Technical Services 

44 H Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20401

Packaging of Approved Product 

Product shall be supplied as sheets on a pallet. The sheets on the bottom of the pallet shall be protected from 

damage caused by the boards or nails in the boards. The sheets shall be completely and securely wrapped to protect 

from moisture or other environmental influences. Wrapping material shall be heavy weight Kraft paper, laminated 

paper, or heavy corrugated paper. The cover material sheets shall be flush to the edge of the skid with no overhang 

to avoid damage to the sheets. 

The pallets shall be banded 4 ways. The bands shall leave no crimp marks on the sheets or other damage that could 

adversely affect the quality of the finished pamphlets. The total weight of the pallets shall not exceed 2,500 pounds 

(1,200 kg). The pallets shall be made from solid pieces of wood; not from pieces of wood nailed together. 

Each pallet shall have 10 lifts or layers; each lift containing 3,000 sheets; each 3,000-sheet lift consisting of 10 

bundles of 300 sheets per bundle. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

1

Specifications for Property 27533-6 

Maroon Woven Book Cover Material

General Requirements 

Suitable for use as a cover material for travel documents able to accept heat stamping of imitation gold foil; 

running on the Government Publishing Office (GPO) automatic binding equipment. Stock will be used in an 

air-conditioned production area maintained at 24 ± 3 o

C and 45 ± 10 % relative humidity. Stock shall remain 

stable and usable throughout the ambient conditions listed. 

All submissions will be evaluated using a 2 phase system. Each phase must be passed in order to place a cover 

material on the Qualified Products List (QPL). All materials will require Phase 1 analysis at least once a year or 

more often if deemed necessary to remain on the QPL. 

Specific Requirements: 

PROPERTY LABORATORY REQUIREMENT METHOD 

Composition 

Cover material shall be 100% cotton fabric impregnated with pyroxylin, 

acrylic, polyurethane, or other non-migratory resin that accepts pressure stamp 

easily and is uniform in coating composition. 

Manufacturer’s Data / 

Method A 

Thickness Average, inch (±10%) 

(mm) 

0.014 

(0.35) ASTM D1777 

Weave Drill 2 / 1 Method A 

Weight Average finished cover , oz/yd2 (g/m2

) ±10% 

Minimum base cloth, oz/yd2 (g/m2

) ±10% 

10 (340) 

5 (170) T-410 

Thread count Per in2 (cm2) 100 (40) ASTM D3775 

Breaking strength 

Minimum Warp / Filling, lb/in 

(kN/m) 

80 / 50 

(14 / 8.8) ASTM D5035 

Stiffness Average, finished cover, Gurley Unit: MD ± 500 

 CD ± 250 

1500 

750 T-543, Note (1) 

Porosity Minimum, seconds 15 T-460 

Gloss (75o) Average, finished cover, Gloss Units, + 5.0 20.0 T-480 

Fade resistance Maximum color deviation after fade testing for 168 

hours, delta E (CIELAB) 

1.0 ASTM G155, Table X3.1, 

Cycle 11 Note (2) 

Surface and 

coating 

Cover material shall be soft and pliable but not oily; surface shall not crack 

when bent sharply. The back surface shall be receptive to a water-based 

polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesive used to bond the end sheet. The top 

surface shall withstand the lamination process. When stretched, the surface 

coating shall show no defects 

Method C 

Abrasion Cover material surface shall show no wear at 200 revolutions. ASTM D3884-Note (3) 

Color 

AND 

Color deviation 

Cover material topside shall be maroon to match 

established standard. (For information, the color 

coordinates are) 

(L*=30.1 

a*= 7.3 

b*= 1.0) 

ASTM D 2244 

Note (4) 

Maximum, delta E (CIELAB) 1.0 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

2

Specifications for Property 27533-6 

Maroon Woven Book Cover Material 

Finish Cover material shall be uniform in appearance, free of blemishes or defects 

and visually identical to current QPL cover material. Method A, Note (5) 

Size 

Average sheet, inches (mm), 

tolerance +1/16" (2 mm) 

16-7/16 

by 7-7/16 

(418 x 189) 

Method B 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall be able to cleanly accept foil stamping using the 

current qualified foil. Method E 

Trim Cover material shall trim with out fraying Method F 

Curl Cover material shall lie flat on a piece of glass. Method D 

Ply Cover material shall be single ply Method A 

Grain (Warp) Cover material warp shall be in the long direction Method A 

Blocking Cover material shall not stick together ASTM D6116-Note (6) 

PROPERTY FUNCTIONAL TEST REQUIREMENTS (PHASE 2) METHOD 

Functional Test 

A Phase 2 test shall be performed for the cover material to evaluate 

performance on the GPO bindery equipment using a measure of production 

performance vs. cover material production defects. 

Sample Quantity = 9000 sheets trimmed to size requirements 

Method G 

Stiffness Cover material shall have appropriate stiffness to feed properly on the 

automatic binding equipment. Method G 

Trim Cover material shall not fray when cut to size or trimmed with a die cutter. Method G 

Foil Stamping Cover material shall accept foil stamping from the bindery production 

equipment using current stamping foil. Method G 

Durability Analysis 

Test Cover in book format will be evaluated for the ISO method 9.2 

Physical Durability Requirements (Cover Only) using the ISO method 

listed. The Analysis sequences to be evaluated are Storage, Thermal Shock, 

Back Pocket, Dynamic Bend, Torsion and Sheet Binding (Cover Only). 

ISO18745-1 

(Note 7) 

Testing and References 

Testing shall be conducted in accordance with cited methods. ASTM methods are available from the American 

Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 or through the 

website: http://www.astm.org/. Test methods designated T-XXX or TIS may be obtained from TAPPI 15 

Technology Parkway S, Norcross, GA 30092 or at the website: http://www.tappi.org/

Note (1): TAPPI, T- 543 Gurley Stiffness method using a 2.5” x 2” (length x width) cover material sample with 

a 25 gram weight at 4”. 

Note (2): Test system uses a Xenon air cooled lamp at 765 W/m2/nm for 168 hours. 

Note (3): Use 500-gram counter weights and Calibrase CS-10 mild green abrasion wheels. Run four samples, 

each to 200 revolutions. Compare samples to established standard for the cover material. Verify if coating is 

uniform to baseline by single beam Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

3

Specifications for Property 27533-6 

Maroon Woven Book Cover Material 

Note (4): Color testing conditions and metrics are as follows: CIELAB color space, Illuminant D65, 10o 

observer and specular component in. The color curve is provided for information only. 

Note (5): A match to the current embossing pattern shall not be required for Phase 1 laboratory testing. All 

cover material for Phase 2 functional testing shall be required to match the current embossing pattern prior to 

beginning Phase 2 testing. 

Note (6): Use an 11-pound (5-kg) weight, place 4 samples (front to front, back to front and back to back) 

between blotting boards and evaluate for blocking after 24 hours in the temperature and humidity conditions 

states. 

Note (7): The physical evaluation will be performed after each stress method for Phase 2 testing only. No chip 

analysis will be performed in Phase 2. The cover physical evaluation criteria are: 

 No damage is visible to the sample book spine post durability analysis. 

 Opening the sample book to any page does not incur any additional damage to the Cover Cloth or Cloth 

spine. 

 At least 50% of the Hot Stamp shall be intact post stress method. 

Method A: Visually assess the composition, weave, finish and ply against the established standard. Machine 

Direction (MD or Warp) thread shall be perpendicular to Cross Direction (CD or Weft) thread. Report as OK or 

Unacceptable 

Method B: Use an appropriate scaled measuring implement. Report results to the nearest millimeter (1/16”). 

Report as Equal or Not equal. 

Method C: Personalization: The material shall pass through the State Department personalization equipment 

with no damage to the coating and withstand temperature up to 177oC (350oF) for a period of 45 seconds. 

Scratches or marks on the surface of the cover material resulting from the personalization process shall 

constitute failure of the test. Report as OK or Unacceptable.

Adhesion of coating to the base stock: The coating of a 6 by 6-inch (150 by 150-mm) sample cut 45 degrees to 

the warp or filling direction when clamped between 1 by 2-inch jaws under a load of 30 pounds (13.5 kg) for 30 

seconds shall show no cracks, breaks, or pinholes. Report as OK or Unacceptable. 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

4

Specifications for Property 27533-6 

Maroon Woven Book Cover Material 

Method D: Cover material shall be evaluated as it rests on a pane of glass in a temperature and humidity 

controlled room using the conditions listed under the general section as well as the size requirements. Cover 

material shall be acclimated for 24 hours prior to the start of evaluation. Cover material shall sit on the glass for 

24 hours before evaluation is conducted. Total time prior to evaluation will be 48 hours. Cover material will be 

acceptable if there are no obvious variations of the edge to glass and no noticeable curl problems with the 

sample sheets. Report as OK or Unacceptable

Method E: Stamping will be performed using a sample pamphlet stamp. Lab test will be conducted using 

bindery stamping press and control foil against a standard sample of cover material and foil. Three samples will 

be prepared and compared to the current cover material. Test samples shall not show flaking and cover material 

coating will accept foil stamp cleanly. Foil shall not flake after 200 revolutions (as listed in the abrasion 

requirement). Report as OK or Unacceptable. 

Method F: A stack of 25 sample sheets shall be cut using a trimming/cutting machine. The cover material shall 

not fray when trimmed. The cover material coating shall not be distorted nor shall the test sheets block. A 

sample is acceptable if the above criteria are met when comparing to a current QPL sample. Report as OK or

Unacceptable. 

Method G: For a new cover material to be acceptable for inclusion on the QPL, the test cover material must 

perform equal to the current QPL cover material. The Phase 2 will be conducted using 9000 sheets trimmed to 

size requirements. The cover material will be tested only after a successful completion of Phase 1. During the 

test, cover material will be evaluated for defects of general appearance before and after production, book spine 

integrity, stiffness, general feeding ability, appearance of stamp after stamping, trimming/die cutting, as well as 

all laboratory analyses. Report as OK or Unacceptable.

Qualified Products

All products shall conform to the above specifications. Successful completion of both phases is required in order to 

be added to the QPL. The two phases are 1) laboratory testing of samples and 2) functional testing of cover material 

plus laboratory analysis. GPO shall notify sample submitter of test results and testing progress. In order for a 

product to be added to the QPL, the product shall meet all specification requirements for qualification. 

Awards will be predicated on the use of a product listed below or on a product, which prior to the time set for 

opening of bids, has been tested and approved. The Contractor shall notify the GPO if there are changes to the 

production processes, manufacturing equipment, or vendors of raw materials. 

The current Maroon Woven Book Cover Material (27533-6) on the QPL:

Holliston LLC, H type, No. 69906 (819937) 

Holliston LLC, T type, No. 69906 (820784) 
Updated: 12/20/2016 .v03 

5

Specifications for Property 27533-6 

Maroon Woven Book Cover Material

Sample Requirement 

All solicitations require approval of the contracting officer prior to shipping. Contact information is listed below. 

Acquisition Services 

Chief, General and Paper Procurement 

(202) 512-2022 

Bidder shall submit 100 sheets for Phase 1 laboratory testing that are representative of the process in the specified 

size for testing and evaluation. When approved for Phase 2 functional testing, bidder shall submit 9,000 sheets 

trimmed to Size requirements. The samples shall be submitted with an original signed and dated cover document 

with the following information: 

(A) Solicitation number, (B) Marked as QPL samples, (C) Brand name and specific product identification number 

and (D) Product data sheet showing the typical properties of the product. 

For qualification testing/evaluation, send samples to the address listed below: 

U.S. Government Printing Office 

Attn: Chief, Testing and Technical Services 

44 H Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20401

Packaging of Approved Product 

Product shall be supplied as sheets on a pallet. The sheets on the bottom of the pallet shall be protected from 

damage caused by the boards or nails in the boards. The sheets shall be completely and securely wrapped to protect 

from moisture or other environmental influences. Wrapping material shall be heavy weight Kraft paper, laminated 

paper, or heavy corrugated paper. The cover sheets shall be flush to the edge of the skid with no overhang to avoid 

damage to the sheets. 

The pallets shall be banded 4 ways. The bands shall leave no crimp marks on the sheets or other damage that could 

adversely affect the quality of the finished pamphlets. The total weight of the pallets shall not exceed 2,500 pounds 

(1,200 kg). The pallets shall be made from solid pieces of wood; not from pieces of wood nailed together. 

Each pallet shall have 10 lifts or layers; each lift containing 3,000 sheets; each 3,000-sheet lift consisting of 10 

bundles of 300 sheets per bundle.