Publication 4012 (Rev. 10-2026) Cat. No. 34183E VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide

Location:	Federal
Posted:	Jul 9, 2026
Due:	Jul 16, 2026
Agency:	U.S. Government Publishing Office
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	76 - Books, Maps, and Other Publications B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Program/Jacket Number: 451-206
Title: Publication 4012 (Rev. 10-2026) Cat. No. 34183E VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide
Bid Opening Date: July 16, 2026
Contract Type: One-Time Bid
Scope: PRODUCT: Consists of proofing, printing, trimming, drilling, collating, set assembly, shrink-wrapping, packaging, and making distribution on the dates specified. Contractor must be prepared for delays at various stages and still meet the distribution deadlines (see quantities and dates as indicated under “SCHEDULE”).

QUANTITY: 65,206 Shrink wrapped Sets.
Each Set consists of one Loose-leaf Book + one O-Ring + one piece of chipboard or equal.

PAGES: 404 Text + 19 Tab Dividers + 2-piece Cover + O-Ring

TRIM SIZE: Covers & Text – 8-1/2 x 11”
Tabs – 9* x 11” (*includes 1/2” lip for tabs)
O-Ring – 2” round re-closeable metal O-Ring

DESCRIPTION:
Covers 1 through 4 print type, rule, solid, line art and halftone matter in Pantone 301C Blue. Prints head to head.

Text prints type, rule, solid, reversed type, line art and screen matter in Black ink. Prints head to head.

Tabs print text, facing out, in Black ink on the face and back of the tab lip. There are a total of 19 tabs. Tabs are 1/8 cut, 2-3/8 banks of clear laminate tabs. Tab positions begin at foot (i.e., Tab position 1 is located at bottom of page). See “TRIMMING/DRILLING” for tab construction requirements.

NOTE: Covers and Text must be printed via conventional offset printing. Digital printing, direct imaging (toner) and inkjet printing are not acceptable for the Covers and Text.

At contractor’s option, the Tab Dividers may be produced via conventional offset or digital printing provided Quality Level III standards are maintained. Final output must be a minimum of 150-line screen and at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi x 1 bit or 600 x 600 dpi x 4-bit depth technology. Contractor must produce the entire printing of the Tab Dividers either conventional offset or digital printing; split production methods are not acceptable without prior approval.
Quantity: 65,206 Shrink wrapped Sets
Ship/Deliver Date: October 9, 2026
Files: 451206

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Specifications by TB

Page 1 of 15

Reviewed by JB

Jacket 451-206

IRS (4830-62) Req 6-03784

BID OPENING: Bids shall be opened virtually at 11:00 am, Eastern Time (ET), on July 16, 2026 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 Jacket Number 451-206 and bid opening date (July 16, 2026) 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.

ISSUE DATE: July 9, 2026

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE AWARD CONCERNING THESE SPECIFICATIONS, CALL (214)767-0451, x8

(Tom Bacon).

SPECIFICATIONS

U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO)

Purchase Division

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)).

PRODUCT: Consists of proofing, printing, trimming, drilling, collating, set assembly, shrink-wrapping, packaging,

and making distribution on the dates specified. Contractor must be prepared for delays at various stages and still

meet the distribution deadlines (see quantities and dates as indicated under “SCHEDULE”).

SUBCONTRACTING: The predominant production function for this procurement is the printing of the covers and

text. Any contractor who cannot perform the predominant production function will be declared non-responsible.

Contract Clause 6, "Subcontracts," of GPO Contract Terms (GPO Publication 310.2, effective December 1, 1987

(Rev. 01-18)), is modified to permit subcontracting of the printing/production of the tabs.

FORM NO/TITLE: Publication 4012 (Rev. 10-2026) Cat. No. 34183E VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide.

QUALITY LEVEL: III Quality Assurance Through Attributes (GPO Publication 310.1, effective May 1979 (Rev.

09-19)) applies.

QUANTITY: 65,206 Shrink wrapped Sets.

Each Set consists of one Loose-leaf Book + one O-Ring + one piece of chipboard or equal.

PAGES: 404 Text + 19 Tab Dividers + 2-piece Cover + O-Ring

TRIM SIZE: Covers & Text – 8-1/2 x 11”

Tabs – 9* x 11” (*includes 1/2” lip for tabs)

O-Ring – 2” round re-closeable metal O-Ring

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Jacket 451-206

PRODUCTION PLAN: Prior to award, within 24 hours of notification from the Government Publishing Office,

the apparent low bidder is to submit a detailed written production plan. The contractor is to email a copy of the plan

to the following: Erika Bryant (Erika.J.Bryant@irs.gov) and Tom Bacon (tbacon@gpo.gov). The proposed plan is

subject to Government approval. If necessary, a pre-award phone call may be required to discuss the elements of the

production plan. Plan must address in specific form each of the below items:

1) Scheduled start-up dates for printing (all components), trimming/drilling, set assembly, and shrink-

wrapping;

2) Sample of the Excel “Product Production Report with Quantities” that must be emailed to the agency daily

throughout production and shipping;

3) Anticipated number of sets to be assembled per day and how production will be monitored to ensure

schedule requirements are met;

4) Contact information for the Government’s point of contact during the term of the contract (contractor must

designate one person of contact).

POST AWARD CONFERENCE CALL: The purpose of the conference call will be to discuss and review all

aspects of the contractor's internal and external operations required to complete this contract. Representatives from

the IRS and a representative from GPO will participate in the call. To establish coordination of all required

operations, the contractor must have a representative from each involved production area in attendance for the call.

Everything outlined in the Production Plan will be reviewed during the post-award conference call.

DESCRIPTION:

Covers 1 through 4 print type, rule, solid, line art and halftone matter in Pantone 301C Blue. Prints head to head.

Text prints type, rule, solid, reversed type, line art and screen matter in Black ink. Prints head to head.

Tabs print text, facing out, in Black ink on the face and back of the tab lip. There are a total of 19 tabs. Tabs are 1/8

cut, 2-3/8 banks of clear laminate tabs. Tab positions begin at foot (i.e., Tab position 1 is located at bottom of page).

See “TRIMMING/DRILLING” for tab construction requirements.

NOTE: Covers and Text must be printed via conventional offset printing. Digital printing, direct imaging (toner) and

inkjet printing are not acceptable for the Covers and Text.

At contractor’s option, the Tab Dividers may be produced via conventional offset or digital printing provided

Quality Level III standards are maintained. Final output must be a minimum of 150-line screen and at a minimum

resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi x 1 bit or 600 x 600 dpi x 4-bit depth technology. Contractor must produce the entire

printing of the Tab Dividers either conventional offset or digital printing; split production methods are not

acceptable without prior approval.

GOVERNMENT TO FURNISH:

- Purchase Order will be emailed to the contractor upon award.

- Print files (see "ELECTRONIC MEDIA") will be emailed (Tab Dividers) or uploaded to an online site for

contractor retrieval (Covers and Text).

- IRS carton shipping labels (Form 6153) for the NDC bulk shipments to complete electronically will be furnished

by IRS via e-mail after award (in a ZIP file with Form 2040)***. See "PACKING/LABELING" for additional

labeling instructions.

- IRS Form 2040 in a fillable PDF file format will be furnished by IRS via e-mail after award (in a ZIP file with IRS

Carton Shipping Labels) ***.

*** Contractor is required to have Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional (or more recent) software (not Adobe Reader)

and the capability to receive via email and open file attachments compressed into a WinZIP (.zip) file format.

Page 3 of 15

Jacket 451-206

The contractor is required to complete and email IRS Form 2040 daily to the IRS when shipping to the NDC begins.

Any delay or missed input could result in delay of payment. IRS Form 2040 is in a fillable PDF file format. The

majority of the information in the form will be filled in by the IRS prior to being sent to the contractor. The

contractor is responsible for the verification and correctness of information supplied back to IRS. Contractor must

read instructions furnished with IRS Form 2040 which instructs the contractor on how to complete and submit the

form. Please contact Erika Bryant (Erika.J.Bryant@irs.gov) for any questions or if there is any missing or incorrect

information.

********************************************************************

ELECTRONIC MEDIA:

- PLATFORM: Unknown

- SOFTWARE: ADDITIONAL SYSTEM TIME IS REQUIRED! Three PDF files (one each for covers, text and tab

dividers) will be provided.

NOTES:

1) Contractor to create page layout to image as specified (trim size, margins, ink colors).

2) Contractor may be responsible for making minor type edits to the book cover and the tab dividers.

3) Contractor may need to adjust margins/reposition image of book (covers and text) to allow for drilling

without loss of copy.

- COLORS: May be identified as RGB, CMYK, and/or Spot Colors. If necessary, contractor to convert all colors to

Pantone 301C Blue for the Covers and to Process Black for the Text and Tabs.

- FONTS: All fonts are Embedded and/or Embedded Subset.

- OUTPUT: 150-line screen

NOTE: GPO Imprint does NOT print on this order!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

- Contractor must have the ability to edit PDF files (when furnished by the Government).

- Contractor is not to request that electronic files provided be converted to a different format. If contractor wishes to

convert files to a different format, the final output must be of the same or higher quality and at no additional cost to

the Government.

- The contractor is cautioned that furnished fonts are the property of the Government and/or its originator. All

furnished fonts are to be eliminated from the contractor's archive immediately after completion of the contract.

- Identification markings such as register marks, commercial identification marks of any kind, etc., including GPO

imprint (with jacket number and revision date), carried in the electronic files, must not print on the finished product.

- Prior to image processing, the contractor shall perform a basic check (preflight) of the furnished media and

publishing files to assure correct output of the required reproduction image. Any errors, media damage or data

corruption that might interfere with proper file image processing must be reported to your contract administrator.

- The contractor shall create/alter any necessary trapping, set proper screen angles and screen frequency, and define

file output selection for the imaging device being utilized. Furnished files must be imaged as necessary to meet the

assigned quality level.

- When PostScript Files are not furnished - prior to making revisions, the contractor shall copy the furnished files

and make all changes to the copy.

STOCK: The specifications of all paper furnished must be in accordance with those listed herein or listed for the

corresponding JCP Code numbers in the Government Paper Specification Standards, No. 13, dated September 2019.

Covers*:

JCP Code A60, White Uncoated Text, Basis Size 25 x 38", Basis Weight 60#, 70# or 80#

--OR--

JCP Code A80, White Opacified Text, Basis Size 25 x 38", Basis Weight 60#

--OR--

White Opacified Text, Basis Size 25 x 38", Basis Weight 70# or 80#

Page 4 of 15

Jacket 451-206

Text*:

JCP Code A60, White Uncoated Text, Basis Size 25 x 38", Basis Weight 40#, 50# or 60#

--OR--

JCP Code A80, White Opacified Text, Basis Size 25 x 38", Basis Weight 40#, 50# or 60#

Tab Dividers*:

JCP Code K10, White Index, Basis Size 25.5 x 30.5", Basis Weight 90# or 110#

*Contractor’s option to use any of the specified stocks. The contractor must use the same stock throughout the run

for each component (covers, text, tab dividers). Contractor must specify the stocks on the bid. See “OFFERS”.

INK: Covers 1 through 4 – Pantone 301C Blue; Text & Tabs – Black

MARGINS: Covers & Text – adequate gripper*. Tabs – contractor to center image on tab lip.

*Contractor may need to adjust margins/reposition image to allow for drilling without loss of copy.

HARD PROOFS: Contractor must provide hard proofs(*) of the covers and text. Hard proofs are not required for

the tab dividers. Contractor is responsible for all costs incurred in the delivery and pickup of hard proofs. Only one

content proof will be returned to the contractor. The contractor MUST include one fully completed airbill (prepaid

by the contractor), one airbill plastic sleeve, and one shipping envelope to the Chamblee GA proof address so that

the proofs can be returned to the contractor. In lieu of returning the proofs, at contractor’s option, the agency will

email a marked up PDF of the changes. Contractor must notify GPO of proof carrier (FedEx or UPS) upon award.

Covers and Text:

(*) CONTENT PROOFS: SIX (6) digital color CONTENT proofs created using the same Raster Image Processor

(RIP) that will be used to produce the product. Proofs shall be collated in page sequence with all elements in proper

position (not pasted up), imaged face and back, and trimmed to the finished size/format of the product. NOTE:

Proofs MUST show drilling placement.

Covers Only:

(*) INKJET PROOFS: One set of INKJET proofs that are G7 profiled and use pigment-based inks. A proofing RIP

that provides an option for high quality color matching (such as Device Links Technology and/or ICC Profiles

Technology) and meets or exceeds industry tolerance to ISO 12647-7 Standard for Graphic Technology (as of

3/19/09, and future amendments) must be utilized plus GRACoL 2006 Coated #1 specifications (CGATS TR006)

must be achieved. Output must be a minimum of 720 x 720 dpi on a GRACoL or SWOP certified proofing media.

Proofs must contain the following color control strip to be evaluated for accuracy: IDEAlliance ISO 12647-7

Control Strip 2009 or 2013(i1). NOTE: Proofs MUST show drilling placement.

Proofs must contain color control bars (such as Brunner, GATF, GRETAG, or RIT) for each color of ink on the

sheet. Control bars must be placed parallel to the press’s ink rollers and must show areas consisting of minimum 1/8

x 1/8” solid color patches; tint patches of 25, 50 and 75%; dot gain scale; and gray balance patches for process color

(if applicable). These areas must be repeated consecutively across the sheet.

The make and model number of the proofing system utilized shall be furnished with the proofs. These proofs must

contain all elements, be in press configuration, and indicate margins. Direct to plate must be used to produce the

final product.

NOTE: Pantone color may be substituted with a similar color (with the exception of process yellow) but may not be

built out of the four process colors. Contractor to submit ink draw downs on actual production stock of Pantone

color used to produce the product.

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Jacket 451-206

SOFT PROOFS: Contractor must provide soft proofs(**) of the tab dividers and of any corrections indicated on the

initial proofs of the covers, text, or tab dividers.

Tab Dividers:

(**) PDF PROOF: One "Press Quality" PDF Proof (for content only) using the same Raster Image Processor (RIP)

that will be used to produce the final printed product. Proof must show drilling placement, color, and contain all

crop marks. PDF proof(s) will not be used/approved for color match or resolution.

2nd Round of Proofs (if necessary due to corrections):

(**) PDF PROOF: One "Press Quality" PDF Proof (for content only) each of the covers, text, and tab dividers after

any corrections indicated on the initial proofs have been made. Proofs must use the same Raster Image Processor

(RIP) that will be used to produce the final printed product. Proof must show drilling placement, color, and contain

all crop marks. NOTE: If file size for the text is too large to be emailed as one file, the contractor is authorized to

email as low resolution. PDF proof(s) will not be used/approved for color match or resolution.

Email all PDF proofs to Erika Bryant (Erika.J.Bryant@irs.gov) and Tom Bacon (tbacon@gpo.gov).

NOTE: Contractor must call Erika Bryant (904-397-8267) to confirm receipt.

NOTE: Contractor furnished proof approval letters will not be recognized for proof approval/disapproval. Only GPO

generated proof letters will be recognized for proof approval/disapproval. Contractor must not print prior to receipt

of an "OK to print" via email.

CONTRACTOR TO FURNISH: All materials (including 2” round re-closeable metal O-Rings) and operations,

other than those listed under "Government to Furnish," necessary to produce the product(s) in accordance with these

specifications.

PRODUCT PRODUCTION REPORT: Contractor must email a product production report to Erika Bryant

(Erika.J.Bryant@irs.gov) and Tom Bacon (tbacon@gpo.gov) DAILY by 10:00 AM Eastern once printing of the

text begins and continue the report through shipping. The report must detail daily quantities for printing, trimming,

drilling, set assembly/shrink-wrapping, and shipping. The information must be provided in an Excel spreadsheet and

reflect daily quantities.

TRIMMING/DRILLING:

-- Covers and Text: Trim 4 sides. Contractor to collate covers 1/2, text, and covers 3/4.

-- Tabs: There are a total of 19 tabs. Tabs are 1/8 cut, 2-3/8 banks of clear laminate tabs. Tab positions begin at foot

(i.e., tab position 1 is located at bottom of page). Rounded corners on tabs. After printing, tabs must be reinforced

by the lamination method of a single thickness of clear plastic, cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, or equal

materials, securely bonded to each side of the divider which shall overlap at least 3/8” on the base sheet and extend

at least 3/8” beyond the tab end. Contractor to collate tab dividers per setup of approved proof.

-- Drill covers, text, and tab dividers with three holes (5/16” to 3/8” diameter); centered on the 11” dimension; 4-

1/4” center to center; center of holes 3/8” from left edge of product. Contractor to ensure no loss of copy due to drill

hole placement. Size of holes must be consistent.

SET ASSEMBLY/SHRINK-WRAP: Contractor to assemble set in the following order: one set of collated covers

with text, one set of collated tab dividers, and one piece of 9 x 11” chipboard or equal to protect the tabs. Contractor

must also include one O-Ring in each shrink-wrapped package. Contractor’s option to place the O-ring on top of

Cover 1 or between the covers/text and tab dividers. Shrink-wrap each set individually. Cover 1 of the book will

face out on the top of the set. The shrink-wrap must be suitable weight to support the sets in the shipping containers.

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

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Publication 4012 (Rev. 10-2026) Cat. No. 34183E VITA/TCE Volunteer Resource Guide

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See also