Social Security Benefit Statement Self-Mailer (SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S)

Location:	Federal
Posted:	Nov 13, 2025
Due:	Dec 1, 2025
Agency:	U.S. Government Publishing Office
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software). 71 - Furniture 75 - Office Supplies and Devices R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Program 826-S

Specifications by DLL

Page 1 of 62

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Washington, DC

GENERAL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS

For the Procurement of

Social Security Benefit Statement Self-Mailer

(SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S)

as requisitioned from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) by the

Social Security Administration (SSA)

Single Award

TERM OF CONTRACT: The term of this contract is for the period beginning Date of Award (for February

2026) and ending January 31, 2027, plus up to four (4) optional 12-month extension periods that may be added in

accordance with the “OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT” clause in SECTION 1 of this

contract.

The period from Date of Award (expected to be after February 1, 2026) until May 31, 2026 will be used by

the contractor for contractor interfacing with SSA’s National File Transfer Management System (FTMS)

for electronic transmission of files from SSA to the production facility and all required testing. Availability

of live production begins December 1, 2026.

NOTE: The purchase order issue date is not expected to have an effective “Term of Program” prior to

February 1, 2026. No testing and interfacing with SSA’s National File Transfer Management System (FTMS)

for electronic transmission of files from SSA to the production facility, as required by these specifications, is

allowed on this contract prior to February 1, 2026, or Date of Award. In the event that the purchase order

is issued before February 1, 2026, the contract base term will begin February 1, 2026. The base term year

may be for less than a full 12 months.

BID OPENING: Bids shall be opened virtually at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET), on December 1, 2025, at the

U.S. Government Publishing Office. All parties interested in attending the bid opening shall email

bids@gpo.gov one (1) hour prior to the bid opening date and time to request a Microsoft Teams live stream

link. This must be a separate email from the bid submission. The link will be emailed prior to the bid opening.

BID SUBMISSION: Bidders must email bids to bids@gpo.gov for this solicitation. No other method of bid

submission will be accepted at this time. The program number and bid opening date must be specified in the subject

line of the emailed bid submission. Bids received after the bid opening date and time specified above will not be

considered for award.

RESTRICTION ON LOCATION OF PRODUCTION FACILITIES: Due to the security requirements set forth

in these specifications, this program must be produced in the United States *.

* See clause defining the “United States” in the SSA EXTERNAL SERVICE PROVIDER SECURITY

REQUIREMENTS.

BIDDERS, PLEASE NOTE: Requirements for this program were previously procured under Program 295-S.

These specifications have been extensively revised; therefore, all bidders are cautioned to familiarize themselves

with all provisions of these specifications before bidding, with particular attention to:

• All security requirements/clauses/specifications specified in SECTION 1.

• SECTION 4. – SCHEDULE OF PRICES, BID ACCEPTANCE PERIOD.

Abstracts of contract prices are available at: https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/vendors/contract-pricing.

For information of a technical nature, contact David Love at (202) 512-0104 or email dlove@gpo.gov.

SSA-1099 / SSA-1042S

Program 826-S (01/27)

SECTION 1. - GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Page 2 of 62

GPO CONTRACT TERMS: Any contract which results from this Invitation for Bid will be subject to the

applicable provisions, clauses, and supplemental specifications of GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2,

effective December 1, 1987 (Rev. 01-18)) and GPO Contract Terms, Quality Assurance through Attributes Program

for Printing and Binding (GPO Publication 310.1, effective May 1979 (Rev. 09-19)).

GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2) –

https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-files-for-vendors/contractterms2018.pdf.

GPO QATAP (GPO Publication 310.1) –

https://www.gpo.gov/docs/default-source/forms-and-standards-files-for-vendors/qatap-rev-09-19.pdf.

SUBCONTRACTING: The predominant production functions are the printing of the notices, laser/ion deposition

imaging of data for the notices from electronically transmitted files, folding, inserting, and domestic mailing. Any

bidder who cannot perform the printing, imaging, folding, inserting, and domestic mailing portions of this contract

will be declared nonresponsible.

The contractor may subcontract the foreign mail sorting.

The contractor is responsible for enforcing all contract requirements outsourced to a subcontractor.

If the contractor needs to add a subcontractor at any time after award, the subcontractor must be approved by the

Government prior to production starting in that facility. If the subcontractor is not approved by the Government,

then the contractor must submit new subcontractor’s information to the Government for approval 30 calendar days

prior to the start of production at that facility.

If the contractor plans to enter into a “Contractor Team Arrangement” or Joint Venture, to fulfill any requirements

of this contract, they must comply with the terms and regulations as detailed in the Printing Procurement Regulation

(GPO Publication 305.3; Rev. 2-24).

COMPUTERIZED IMAGING: Computerized imaging means ink jet spray or electrostatic (laser or ion

deposition). Computerized imaging must be the same font and print size as the preprinted language. Dollar

amounts must be bold and large type.

QUALITY ASSURANCE LEVELS AND STANDARDS: The following levels and standards shall apply to

these specifications:

Product Quality Levels:

(a) Printing Attributes -- Level III.

(b) Finishing Attributes -- Level III.

Inspection Levels (from ANSI/ASQCZ1.4)):

(a) Non-destructive Tests - General Inspection Level I.

(b) Destructive Tests - Special Inspection Level S-2.

Specified Standards: The specified standards for the attributes requiring them shall be:

Attribute

Specified Standard

P-7. Type Quality and Uniformity

P-9. Solid and Screen Tint Color Match

O.K. Press Sheets

SSA-1099 / SSA-1042S

Program 826-S (01/27)

Page 3 of 62

Special Instructions: In the event that inspection of press sheets is waived by the Government, the following listed

alternate standards (in order of precedence) will become the Specified Standards:

P-7. Type Quality and Uniformity

P-9. Pantone Matching System color.

OK proof / Average type dimension in Publication

Pantone Matching System

OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT: The Government has the option to extend

the term of this contract for a period of 12 months by written notice to the contractor not later than 30 days before

the contract expires. If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract will be considered to include

this clause, except, the total duration of the contract may not exceed five (5) years as a result of, and including,

any extension(s) added under this clause. Further extension may be negotiated under the “EXTENSION OF

CONTRACT TERM” clause. See also “ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT” for authorized pricing

adjustment(s).

EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TERM: At the request of the Government, the term of any contract resulting

from this solicitation may be extended for such period of time as may be mutually agreeable to the GPO and the

contractor.

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES: If the contractor fails to deliver the supplies or perform the services within the time

specified by the contract, or any authorized extension thereof, the actual damage to the Government for the delay

will be difficult or impossible to determine. Therefore, pursuant to the “Liquidated Damages” clause

(GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2, effective December 1, 1987 (Rev. 01-18)), in lieu of actual

damages the contractor will pay to the Government as fixed, agreed, and liquidated damages for each workday

of delay, the amount set forth below.

Liquidated damages will be assessed against that part or parts of an order which have not been shipped to the

specified destination on the specified date. Liquidated damages will not be assessed against that part or parts of

an order which have been shipped on schedule. The amount of damages will be computed at the rate of five percent

(5%) of the contract price of the quantity not shipped in accordance with the specifications for each workday the

contractor is in default of the shipping schedule(s); Provided, That the minimum amount of liquidated damages

will not be less than $5.00 for the entire order and not more than $50,000.00 per day on the entire order, except

the total damages assessed against a contractor will in no case exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total value of the

entire order. Liquidated damages will not be assessed if the contractor has shipped at least ninety percent (90%) of

the quantity ordered for shipment to each specified destination on or before the scheduled date.C

Liquidated damages will apply to all shipments except: Materials furnished the contractor which are to be returned

to the Government; sample copies or materials for file or storage purposes; and shipments marked either “File

Copies” or “Depository Copies” sent to the Government Publishing Office; if ordered. However, payment of an

order will be withheld until evidence of shipment of such material or copies is furnished.

ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT: The pricing under this contract will be adjusted in accordance with this

clause, provided that in no event will any pricing adjustment be made that would exceed the maximum permissible

under any law in effect at the time of the adjustment. There will be no adjustment for orders placed during the first

period specified below. Pricing will thereafter be eligible for adjustment during the second and any succeeding

performance period(s). For each performance period after the first, a percentage figure will be calculated as

described below and that figure will be the economic price adjustment for that entire next period. Pricing

adjustments under this clause are not applicable to reimbursable postage or transportation costs, or to paper, if paper

prices are subject to adjustment by separate clause elsewhere in this contract.

For the purpose of this clause, performance under this contract will be divided into successive periods. The first

period will extend from the Date of Award to January 31, 2027, and the second and any succeeding period(s)

will extend for 12 months from the end of the last preceding period, except that the length of the final period may

vary. The first day of the second and any succeeding period(s) will be the effective date of the economic price

adjustment for that period.

SSA-1099 / SSA-1042S

Program 826-S (01/27)

Page 4 of 62

Pricing adjustments in accordance with this clause will be based on changes in the seasonally adjusted "Consumer

Price Index For All Urban Consumers - Commodities Less Food" (Index) published monthly in the CPI Detailed

Report by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The economic price adjustment will be the percentage difference between Index averages as specified in this

paragraph. An index called the variable index will be calculated by averaging the monthly Indexes from the 12-

month interval ending 3 months prior to the beginning of the period being considered for adjustment. This average

is then compared to the average of the monthly Indexes for the 12-month interval ending October 31, 2025,

called the base index. The percentage change (plus or minus) of the variable index from the base index will be the

economic price adjustment for the period being considered for adjustment.

The Government will notify the contractor by contract modification specifying the percentage increase or decrease

to be applied to invoices for orders placed during the period indicated. The contractor will apply the percentage

increase or decrease against the total price of the invoice less reimbursable postage or transportation costs and

separately adjusted paper prices. Payment discounts will be applied after the invoice price is adjusted.

If the Government exercises an option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this economic price

adjustment clause.

PAPER PRICE ADJUSTMENT: Paper prices charged under this contract will be adjusted in accordance with

“Table 9 - Producer Price Indexes and Percent Changes for Commodity Groupings and Individual Items” in

Producer Price Indexes report, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as follows:

NOTE: For the purpose of this contract, the Paper Price Adjustment will be based on the date of actual

production. Actual, live production begins December 1, 2026.

1. BLS code 0913-01 for Offset and Text will apply to all paper required under this contract.

2. The applicable index figures for the month of November 2026, will establish the base index.

3. There shall be no price adjustment for the first three (3) production months of the contract.

4. Price adjustments may be monthly thereafter, but only if the index varies by an amount (plus or minus)

exceeding 5% by comparing the base index to the index for that month, which is two months prior to the

month being considered for adjustment.

5. Beginning with order placement in the fourth month, index variances will be calculated in accordance with

the following formula:

X – base index x 100 = ____%

base index

where X = the index for that month which is two months prior to the month being considered for adjustment.

6. The contract adjustment amount, if any, will be the percentage calculated in 5 above less 5%.

7. Adjustments under this clause will be applied to the contractor’s bid price(s) for Item V (a)., “PAPER”

in the “SCHEDULE OF PRICES” and will be effective on the first day of any month for which prices are

to be adjusted.

The Contracting Officer will give written notice to the contractor of any adjustments to be applied to invoices for

orders placed during months affected by this clause. In no event, however, will any price adjustment be made which

would exceed the maximum permissible under any law in effect at the time of the adjustment. The adjustment, if

any, shall not be based upon the actual change in cost to the contractor, but shall be computed as provided above.

The contractor warrants that the paper prices set forth in this contract do not include any allowance for any

contingency to cover anticipated increased costs of paper to the extent such increases are covered by this price

adjustment clause.

SSA-1099 / SSA-1042S

Program 826-S (01/27)

Page 5 of 62

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: Clause 2352.224-1 Protection of Confidential Information (Dec 2008):

(a) “Confidential information,” as used in this clause, means information or data, or copies or extracts of

information or data, that is: (1) provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to the contractor for,

or otherwise obtained by the contractor in, the performance of this contract; and (2) of a personal nature

about an individual, such as name, home address, and social security number, or proprietary information or

data submitted by or pertaining to an institution or organization, such as employee pay scales and indirect

cost rates.

(b) The Contracting Officer and the contractor may, by mutual consent, identify elsewhere in this contract

specific information or categories of information that the Government will furnish to the contractor or that

the contractor is expected to generate which are confidential. Similarly, the Contracting Officer and the

contractor may, by mutual consent, identify such confidential information from time to time during the

performance of the contract. The confidential information will be used only for purposes delineated in the

contract; any other use of the confidential information will require the Contracting Officer’s express written

authorization. The Contracting Officer and the contractor will settle any disagreements regarding the

identification pursuant to the “Disputes” clause.

and officials who need it to perform the contract. Employees and officials who need access to confidential

information for performance of the contract will be determined in conference between SSA’s Contracting

Officer, Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, and the responsible contractor official. Upon

request, the contractor will provide SSA with a list of “authorized personnel,” that is, all persons who have

or will have access to confidential information covered by this clause.

(d) The contractor shall process all confidential information under the immediate supervision and control of

authorized personnel in a manner that will: protect the confidentiality of the records; prevent the

unauthorized use of confidential information; and prevent access to the records by unauthorized persons.

(e) The contractor shall assure that each contractor employee with access to confidential information knows

the prescribed rules of conduct, and that each contractor employee is aware that he/she may be subject to

criminal penalties for violations of the Privacy Act and/or the Social Security Act.

When the contractor employees are made aware of this information, they will be required to sign the SSA-

301, “Contractor Personnel Security Certification” (see Exhibit A).

A copy of this signed certification must be forwarded to: SSA, Attn: Matthew Thomas, DMIM, 1300

Annex Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or email to:

matthew.thomas@ssa.gov. A copy must also be forwarded to: U.S. Government Publishing Office, Attn:

dlove@gpo.gov (See paragraph (f) below regarding the minimum standards that the safeguards must meet.)

(f) Whenever the contractor is storing, viewing, transmitting, or otherwise handling confidential information,

the contractor shall comply with the applicable standards for security controls that are established in the

Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA). (These standards include those set by the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) via the Federal Information Processing Standards

(FIPS) publications and NIST Special Publications, particularly FIPS 199, FIPS 200, and NIST Special

Publications - 800 series.)

(g) If the contractor, in the performance of the contract, uses any information subject to the Privacy Act of

1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and/or section 1106 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1306, the contractor must

follow the rules and procedures governing proper use and disclosure set forth in the Privacy Act, section

1106 of the Social Security Act, and the Commissioner’s regulations at 20 C.F.R. Part 401 with respect to

that information.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.