New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-11
PROPOSALS FOR POST OFFICE EN-.
IL yEIOPES
Posr ovr1cE DrpaRruExT.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April IS, 1871.
SEALED PROPOSALS will be received at
this Department until FRIDAY, the 18th day of
May, 1871, at II O'Clock NJ, for furnishing in
such quantities and at such times as may be re-
ouired, the following described Post Office En-
velopes, for period of two years, commencing
on the LIST day of July, 1871, to wit:
FOR OFFICIAL LETTERS AND RETURNS.
No. /, size ST by 81 inches estimated number
requiered annually, S,000,o00
No. 2, size 81 by 81 inches , estimated number
required annually, l,250,0o0.
No 8, size4 by 9 inches; estimated number
required annually, ,5OO,000.
No. T. size ~ by l0a inches estimated num-
Der required annually, 100000.
FOR REGISTERED PACKAGES. -
No. s, size s by 10s inches estimated number
required annually, 2, 100000.
The estimates given are intended guide to
bidders. The Department may require more or
less OF each kind, as the service may demand.
Bids must be made for each kind of Envelope
separately, aud the contract will be awarded,
item by item, to the lowest responsible bidder or
bidders.
Specimens of the different sizes and styles of
Envelopes required, together with blank forms
for bids, will be furnished on application to the
Third Assistant Postmaster General
The Envelopes must strictly conform in size,
samples, the cumming on the flaps or or lappets
to be done in the best manner by hand. The
Envelopes must be banded in parcels OF twenty
i've, packed in strong pasteboard or straw boxes,
securely bound with linen or cotton cloth on the
corners and edges, each to contain not less than
$50 of sizes Nos. and z, and not less than 100
of the other Sizes or otherwise as may be ordered
the boxes to be wrapped in strong MANILA paper
and properly sealed, so as to bear safe transport
tation by mail to postmasters. When required
to be delivered at the Department, the wrapping
may be dispensed with, in the discretion of the
Postmaster General.
When 5000 or more Envelopes are required to
fill the order of a postmaster, or when large Tots
are ordered to be sent to the Post Office Depart
ment, they must bepacked in strong wooden
cases and properly addressed, but when less than
1000 are required to be sent by mail proper
labels of direction must be placed on each pack
age all to be done by the contractor without
additional charge -
The Envelopes must be delivered in such
quantities as may from time to time be required
to fill the orders of postmasters of the Depart
ment, and be delivered either at the post Office
in the city where the accepted bidder resides or
at this Department, as the Postmaster General
may drees, free Of cost for packing, labelling,
and delivering the whole to be done under the
inspection and supervision of an agent of the
Department.
All the Envelopes herein described must
bear such printing as the Postmaster General
may direct, and the Registered Package Envel-
opes will be required to be printed in Vermil-
lion or some other approved brilliant color.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to
reject any and all bids, if in his judgment the
Interests Of the Government require it.
Each proposal must be signed by the indi-
vidual or firm making it, and be accompanied
by guarantee certified to be responsible and
sufficient by the Postmaster or United States
Attorney where the bidder resides that the bid
der shall, within ten days after being called upon
to'do so, execute a contract to furnish promptly,
and in quantities as ordered, the article or arti-
cles awarded to him, to be accompanied by
bond, with approved security, in penalty of
not less than twice the contract price of all the
articles estimated to be furnished by said bidder,
conditioned upon the faithful performance of
the same.
Proposals unacconpaned by such guarantee
will not be considered,
The Postmaster General reserves to himself
the right to annul the contract if IN his Judgment
there shall be failure to perform faithfully any
of its stipuations, or in case of wilful attempt
to impose upon the Department Envelopes infe
rior to samples. The failure to comply with
any one order under the contract will operate as
forfeiture oc the entire penalty of the bond
under the 18th section of the act of Congress
approved August g, 1912, entitled !'An act
legalizng and making appropriations for such
necessary objects as have been usually included
in the general appropriation bills without au-
thorlty of law and to fix and provide for certain
incidental expenses of the Departments and
offices of the Government, and for other pur-
poses," (U. s. Statutes at Large Vol. s. page
$50 j or the Postmaster General may, in his
discretion, direct the purchase in open market
of such quantities of Envelopes as shall be ne
cessary to supply the deficiency caused by such
failure and charge To the contractor or contract
ors fifty per centum of the price which it shall
be found necessary to pay for such articles.
Bids should be securely enveoped and sealed,
marked Proposals for Post Office Envelopes"
and addressed to he Third Assistant Postmaster
General, Post Office Department, Washington,
ID. G. JOHN A. j. CRESWELL,
ap204t Postmaster General.