National Republican., 1877-02-07
PROPOSALS.,
PROPOSALS FoR ADMEsIvE POSTAGE
i STAMPS.
Posr OPvtCE DEPARTMENT

--~N~ ~.N~ccsN.oNooNHo NNNNe>
PROPOSALS FOR OR iMri ARHEsIvE POSTAGE
Posr 0pvrcr DEPARTMENT
Sealed proposal. arc iSSiea iff rom On Ste staseps,e
Engrayers and Plate Printers, and will be received
at this Department until u o'clock m, on Wednes-
ali ali the be- postage stamps which this Department
may Iequ re for public and official use during a
period O. four years, commencing on the ist day Of
]. stamps for the use Of tho public,
~ 2, 0aiclal stamps for the use Of tho Executive
.. Newspaper and periodical stamps.
QUALITY OF STAMPS.
The stamps must be furnished, subject TO tho
approval OF the Department, from steel plates,
engraved in the highest style Of the art OF steel
10 BE-
best quality suitable for the PURPOSE, and satis:
with thc best quality Of adhesive gum, perforated
In such manner that each separate stamp can be
readily detached and used, the sheets TO be we'll
pressed, and packed SO as to prevent them from
adhcring to each other; the same to bo furnished
with all reasonable dispatch, in such quantities
daily 70 fll requsitons from postmasters and from
the Executive Departments. The stamps must
be printed on hand'roller presses.
DIES. ROLLS, AND PLATES.
The dies, rolls, and plates from which postage
United States, will be placed in the keeping and
custody Of the contractor before the hrst day
order and control OF tho Department, as herein-
afer provided; and tho contractor will be re-
qured, from said dies, rolls and plates, and from
such rolls and plates as may be necessary to be
reproduced from the original dies, to have on
hand, ready for Issue on the day the contract
the several denominations and kinds required, to
fll the current daily acquisitions from tho Depart.
ment, without hindrance or delay.
in repair all dies, rolls, and plates from which
stamps may be printed, and TO renew the same
wnSnsvsr rsGnifed ana should new designs ~; be
ent series Of stamps for the use Of the public or
Of any Of them, for denominations Of stamps not
now In use, the same shall be furnished and en-
grayed, subject to the approval OF the Postmaster
General, upon his request, within q reasonable
time; all which shall be done and executed in the
and ut his own expense. No change will be made
In the present designs Of oiicial postage stamps,
contractor WIN be required to keep in repair, and
renew when required, the dies, rolls, and plates
for these stamps, the same as for the stamps for
made or used at any time in filling the contract
shall Immediately become the absolute property Of
the United states, and shall be delivered, ln good
working order, to the Postmaster General or his
authorized agent whenever demanded.
BUILDING, PLACE OF MANUFACTURE
ETC.
The stamps will be required to be manufactured
In fireproof building, and in separate apart
u
is done by the contractor-the whole to be subject
TO the approval Of the Department-nnd when
finished must be placed in fire and burglar
proof safe or vault, to be specially provided for
that purpose, and constructed to the satisfaction
Of the Department. The contractor, his en-
tions the Department may from time to time
adopt for the security OF the Government.
AiENT-OFFICERoOM
A resident agent OF the Department will have
supervision Of the manufacture, storage and issue
of the stamps, who shall at all times have full
and free access to the apartments safes and vaults
where the stamps are manufactured and stored
for the purpose of inspecting the same; and the
contractor shall furnish him and his clerks suit.
able Office and desk-room for the transaction Of
the business Of his agency without cost to the
Government. The Postmaster General shall also
have the right at any tmo to cause an inspection
to he made, by any agent or agents whom he may
mentr, safes and vaults used ior the manufacture
and storage OF stamps, and Of the stamps In course
OF manufacture or In stock.
STOCK ON HAND.
The contractor shall at all times keep on hand
n stock OF the several denominations and kinds
Of stamps, subject to the control OF the Post
agent, or such other agents as may be specially
authorized by the Postmaster General, in all
stages Of manufacture, sufficient to meet all or.
ders OF the Department, and to provide against
any and all contingencies that may be likely to
occur during the existence Of the contract so that
promptly ed % and the Il DC DepSrtment shall % nave We
The right to require the contractor at any time
during the existence of the contract, to furnish
ply for three months.
PACKING.
Stamps to be transmitted by sea routes must
be securely packed in hermetically sealed tin
in ts %ana
board boxes, bound on the edges and corners with
muslin, and enveloped In two thcknesses OF
nila envelopes, as the quantity to be transmitted
may require; all packages to be so inclOsed as to
enable the agent Of the Department to officially
seal them.
DELIVERY.
The stamps may be required to be delivered by
the contractor in separate packages as above pro-
yided for at the post Office In the place where the
same are manufactured, or at such other post
manufacture as the Postmaster General may d.
rect; or in such quantities at the Post otice De-
partment, Washington, u. o., Tea III denomination
General may direct.
BLANKS.
In addition, the contractor will be required to
furnish labels, and direct the same, for each pack.
by the agent Of the Department, together with ali
other blanks required to be Enclosed with the
stamps; also all blanks for daily weekly, monthly
and quarterly returns relating to the number and
denominations Of stamps furnished.
REPORTS.
The contractor will be required to report
weekly, under oath, the number, denomination
and kind Of stamps manufactured, Finished, un-
nnished and Spoiled the number issued during
the week and the number available for Issue; all
spoiled stamps to be destroyed by the agent OF
the Department in the presence OF the contractor
or his representative or otherwise disposed Of as
the Postmaster General may direct.
AWARD.
The contract will be awarded on the basis of
the number of the several kinds OF stamps issued
during the nscal year ending June 10, 1870, as
follows:
!. Number Of stamps TOR use Of the
public. COS, 7s9, 900
the Executive Departmen!s.: l7,es2, 1905
o. Number OF newspaper and periodical
stamps. ......................... l,2so,a47
Total. l................"........ ,772, lo2
Bids must be made for each kind Of stamps sen
arately the bidders stating in their proposals the