A-A-59594A 

June 1, 2011

 SUPERSEDING 

 A-A-59594 

 October 9, 2001

COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTION

 TOILET TISSUE, INSTITUTIONAL

The General Services Administration has authorized the use of this 

Commercial Item Description.

1. SCOPE.

1.1 This Commercial Item Description (CID) covers institutional toilet tissue suitable for use by 

Federal, State, local governments and other interested parties; and as a component of operational 

rations.

2. CLASSIFICATION.

2.1 The toilet tissue shall conform to the following styles, types, classes, and sheet sizes as 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order.

 Styles, types, classes, and sheet sizes. 

 Style I - Roll 

 Type A - One ply

 Type B - Two ply 

 

 Class 1 - Perforated

 Sheet size a - 101.6 mm x 101.6 mm (4.0” x 4.0”)

 Sheet size b - 114.3 mm x 101.6 mm (4.5” x 4.0”)

 Sheet size c - 114.3 mm x 114.3 mm (4.5” x 4.5”) 

 Sheet size d - Other

 Class 2 - Non perforated

 Sheet size a - 228,600 mm x 88.89 mm (750.0’ x 3.5”) 

 Sheet size b - 304,800 mm x 88.89 mm (1000.0’ x 3.5”)

 

AMSC N/A FSC 

 8540 

METRIC
A-A-59594A 

 Sheet size c - 609,600 mm x 88.89 mm (2000.0’ x 3.5”)

 Sheet size d - Other

Style II - Folded 

 Type A - One ply

 Type B - Two ply

 Sheet size a - 215.9 mm x 114.3 mm (8.5” x 4.5”)

 Sheet size b - 114.3 mm x 114.3 mm (4.5” x 4.5”) 

 Sheet size c - 101.6 mm x 127.0 mm (4.0” x 5.0”)

 Sheet size d - 101.6 mm x 254.0 mm (4.0” x 10.0”)

 Sheet size e - Other

3. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS.

3.1 Material. The toilet tissue shall be unglazed. The tissue shall be made from 50 percent 

recovered fiber, including 20 percent postconsumer fiber. 

3.2 Workmanship. The toilet tissue shall be trimmed with clean, smooth edges. The paper 

shall be free of dirt spots, holes, tears, wrinkles, foreign matter, undigested paper, or unbleached 

waste. 

3.3 Appearance. The toilet tissue may be smooth or textured. 

3.4 Odor. The toilet tissue shall have no disagreeable odor when dry or wet. 

3.5 Color. The toilet tissue shall be white unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, 

contract, or purchase order. Tissue for use in Department of Defense operational rations shall be 

white, dull beige, green, or yellow. 

3.6 Disintegration. The supplier shall certify that the toilet tissue shall not clog or interfere 

with the water flow of waste lines or septic tank systems.

3.7 Physical requirements. The toilet tissue shall dispense satisfactorily from the fixture when 

loaded according to the directions. The tissue shall meet or exceed the requirements of Table I. 

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A-A-59594A

TABLE I. Physical requirements

Characteristic Requirement Test Method

 Style I Style II

 Type A Type B Type A Type B

Weight per unit area: TAPPI T 410 1/

Grammage, g/m2, min 14.7 27.7 14.7 27.7 

Basis weight, lb, min 9.0 17.0 9.0 17.0 

 (24 x 36 - 500)

Tensile strength: TAPPI T 576 1/

 Cross direction (Dry) 

 gf/3in, min 350 200 350 200 

 Cross direction (Wet) 

 gf/3in, min 0 0 0 0

 

 Machine direction (Dry)

 gf/3in, min 850 600 850 600

 Machine direction (Wet)

 gf/3in, min 0 0 0 0 

Water absorption: TAPPI T 432 1/ 

seconds for 0.01 ml, max 60 5 60 5 

1/ Prior to physical testing, samples shall be conditioned in accordance with TAPPI T 402.

 

4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. In accordance with section 23.403 of the Federal 

Acquisition Regulations, the Government's policy is to acquire items composed of the highest 

percentage of recovered materials practicable, consistent with maintaining a satisfactory level of 

competition without adversely affecting performance requirement or exposing suppliers' 

employees to undue hazards from the recovered materials. 

5. PRODUCT CONFORMANCE. The toilet tissue shall meet the physical characteristics of 

this CID, conform to the producer's own drawings, specifications, standards, and quality 

assurance practices, and be the same toilet tissue offered for sale in the commercial market. The 

Government reserves the right to require proof of such conformance. 

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A-A-59594A

6. PACKAGING. Preservation, packaging, packing, labeling, and case marking shall be as 

specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase order. 

7. NOTES.

7.1 Purchasers shall specify:

 - Styles, types, classes, and sheet sizes required.

 - Packaging requirements (Sec. 6 or as specified in the solicitation, contract, or purchase 

 order).

 

7.2 Sources of documents.

7.2.1 Sources of information for nongovernmental documents is as follows:

TAPPI test methods may be obtained from: Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper 

Industry, 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 or on the Internet at: 

http://www.tappi.org/.

.

7.2.2 Sources of information for governmental documents are as follows:

Civil agencies and other interested parties may obtain copies of this CID and the Federal 

Acquisition Regulations from: General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service, 

Specifications Section, Suite 8100, 470 L 'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20407.

Beneficial comments, recommendations, additions, deletions, clarifications, etc., and any data 

which may improve this document should be sent to: Commander, Defense Logistics Agency

(DLA) Troop Support, ATTN: FTSA, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5092 

or FAX (215) 737-2963, or via E-mail: dscpsubsweb@dla.mil.

Military activities may obtain copies of this CID from: Standardization Documents Order 

Desk, DLA Document Services, 700 Robbins Avenue, Building 4D, Philadelphia, PA 

19111-5094 or on the Internet at: https://assist.daps.dla.mil or 

https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/.

 

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 A-A-59594A
MILITARY INTERESTS: CIVIL AGENCY COORDINATING ACTIVITY:

Custodians GSA - 2FYI 

 

 Army - GL PREPARING ACTIVITY: 

Review Activities DLA - SS

 

 Army - MD 

 (Project No. 8540-2010-001) 

NOTE: The activities listed above were interested in this document as of the date of this 

document. Since organizations and responsibilities can change, you should verify the currency 

of the information above using the ASSIST Online database at https://assist.daps.dla.mil.

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