This is an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the procurement of **** FSA COC ballots and postcards. The U. S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is seeking bids for the production and mailing of nomination postcards, annual election self-mailers, reminder postcards, and makeup election self-mailers. Key requirements include offset printing, adherence to strict security protocols for Personally Identifiable Information (PII), specific printing and construction specifications for postcards and self-mailers, and timely delivery according to a strict schedule. Bidders must submit email bids to ***@***. *. * virtual bid opening will be held on May 21, 2026. Prior to award, the apparent low bidder may be required to supply samples and undergo a pre-award survey. The contract will be subject to GPO contract terms and quality assurance programs. The warranty period is extended to one calendar year from the date of final payment.
The bid notice specifies several must-meet mailing dates for each item, including November 3, 2026, for annual election ballots and January 4, 2027, for makeup election ballots. For nomination postcards, the mailing deadline is June 15, 2026, and for reminder postcards, it is November 16, 2026. The notice states, This date is a must.
The contractor may invoice for only the mailed/delivered portion of the order, meaning the complete purchase order amount will not be received until the last partial mailed delivery is received by the agency. It is requested that the contractor invoice GPO within 10 workdays from the date of complete distribution for timely payment and customer billing closeout. The contractor must include proof of delivery (POD) for the complete quantity, including GPO inspection copies when required, with their invoice for payment to prevent delays.
The bid notice states that the warranty period is extended from 120 days to one calendar year from the date the check is tendered as final payment.
The notice mentions that prior to award, the apparent low vendor must be able to show the ability to produce the product in question and may be asked to supply samples of similar items. Additionally, the government reserves the right to conduct an onsite pre-award survey to determine the responsibility of the prime contractor or any subcontractor, requiring evidence of technical, production, managerial, and financial abilities.
The bid notice requires prior to production samples for each item, including PDF proofs with live data for postcards, and physical copies for self-mailers generated from test and live data. Specific quantities and deadlines for submitting these samples are provided for each item.
The notice warns that contractors who subcontract the predominant production function (offset printing) will be declared not responsible. Failure to provide requested financial documents in a timely manner may result in the contracting officer not having adequate information to reach an affirmative determination of responsibility.
