NCA Postcards

Location:	Federal
Posted:	Jun 4, 2026
Due:	Jun 18, 2026
Agency:	U.S. Government Publishing Office
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Program 641-S

Specifications by MRN

Page 1 of 14

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Government Publishing & Print Procurement

GENERAL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS

For the Procurement of

NCA Postcards

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

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Single Award

CONTRACT TERM: The term of this contract is for the period beginning August 1, 2026 and ending July 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.

BID OPENING: Bids shall be opened virtually at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET), on June 18, 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 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.

THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM. THERE IS NO ABSTRACT AVAILABLE.

For information of a technical nature, contact Lou Belden at lbelden@gpo.gov or (202) 512-1479.

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SECTION 1. – GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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.

GPO IMPRINT REQUIREMENTS: The GPO imprint requirement, GPO Contract Terms, Supplemental

Specifications, No. 9, is waived.

SUBCONTRACTING: The predominant production function is printing and disposal of waste materials. Bidders

who must subcontract the predominant production functions will be declared non-responsible.

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

specifications:

Product Quality Levels:

(a) Printing (page related) Attributes – Level III.

(b) Finishing (item related) Attributes – Level III.

Inspection Levels (from ANSI/ASQC Z1.4):

(a) Nondestructive 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

Average type dimension

Prior to award, contractor may be required to provide information related to specific equipment that will be used for

production.

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 shall 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.

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641-S (07/27)

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ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT: The pricing under this contract shall 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 August 1, 2026 to July 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.

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 three (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 April 30, 2026, 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 shall 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 shall be applied after the invoice price is adjusted.

SECURITY WARNING: It is the contractor’s responsibility to properly safeguard personally identifiable

information (PII) from loss, theft, or inadvertent disclosure and to immediately notify the Government of any

loss/theft/disclosure of personally identifiable information. PII is “information which can be used to distinguish or

trace an individual’s identity, such as their name, social security number, biometric records, etc., alone, or when

combined with other personal or identifying information which is linked or linkable to a specific individual, such as

date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc.” (Ref.: OMB Memorandum 07-16.) Other specific examples of PII

include, but are not limited to:

(a) Personal identification number, such as passport number, driver’s license number, taxpayer identification

number, or financial account or credit card number;

(b) Address information, such as street address or personal email address; and,

characteristic), fingerprints, handwriting, or other biometric image or template data (e.g., retina scans, voice

signature, facial geometry).

The PII for this contract consists of the recipients’ names and mailing addresses.

PREAWARD SURVEY: In order to determine the responsibility of the contractor or any subcontractor, the

Government reserves the right to conduct an on-site preaward survey at the contractor’s/subcontractor’s facility or to

require other evidence of technical, production, managerial, financial, and similar abilities to perform, prior to the

award of a contract. As part of the financial determination, the contractor in line for award may be required to provide

one or more of the following financial documents:

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1) Most recent profit and loss statement

2) Most recent balance sheet

3) Statement of cash flows

4) Current official bank statement

5) Current lines of credit (with amounts available)

6) Letter of commitment from paper supplier(s)

7) Letter of commitment from any subcontractor

The documents will be reviewed to validate that adequate financial resources are available to perform the contract

requirements. Documents submitted will be kept confidential and used only for the determination of responsibility by

the Government. Failure to provide the requested information in the time specified by the Government may result in

the Contracting Officer not having adequate information to reach an affirmative determination of responsibility.

PREAWARD PRODUCTION PLANS: As part of the preaward survey, the contractor must present, in writing, to

the Contracting Officer within three (3) workdays of being notified to do so by the Contracting Officer or his/her

representative, a detailed plan consisting of the below requirements. The workday after notification to submit will be

the first day of the schedule.

If the Government requests additional information after review of the plans, the contractor must submit updated plans

within two (2) workdays of request. After review of the updated plans, it is at the Contracting Officer’s discretion to

allow additional revisions/updates.

These proposed plans are subject to review and approval by the Government, and award will not be made prior to

approval of same. The Government reserves the right to waive some or all of these plans.

Security Control Plan: The contractor shall operate and maintain an effective security system whereby materials used

to perform the contract are manufactured and/or stored (e.g., while awaiting distribution or disposal) so as to ensure

against theft and/or the unauthorized possession of the materials. The contractor is cautioned that Government

provided information shall not be used for non-government business. Specifically, Government information shall not

be used for the benefit of a third party.

The Government retains the right to conduct on-site security reviews at any time during the term of the contract.

At a minimum, the plan shall explain the following:

1. How Government files (data) will be secured to prevent disclosure to a third party prior to and after

termination of contract;

2. How all accountable materials will be handled throughout all phases of production;

3. How the disposal of waste materials will be handled (see “Disposal of Waste Materials” below); and,

4. How all applicable Government-mandated security/privacy/rules and regulations as cited in this contract shall

be adhered to by the contractor and/or subcontractor(s).

Disposal of Waste Materials – The contractor is required to demonstrate how all waste materials used in the

production of sensitive records will be definitively destroyed (ex., burning, pulping, shredding, macerating, or other

suitable similar means). Electronic Records must be definitively destroyed in a manner that prevents reconstruction.

Definitively destroying the records means the material cannot be reassembled and used in an inappropriate manner in

violation of law and regulations. Sensitive records are records that are national security classified or exempted from

disclosure by statue, including the Privacy Act or regulation.

The contractor, at a minimum, must cross-cut shred all documents into squares not to exceed 1/4 inch. All documents

to be destroyed cannot leave the security of the building and must be destroyed at contractor’s printing site. The

contractor must specify the method planned to dispose of the material. Subcontracting is not allowed.

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POSTAWARD CONFERENCE: Unless waived by the Contracting Officer, the total requirements of the job as

indicated in these specifications will be reviewed by Government representatives with the contractor’s representatives

at the U.S. Government Publishing Office, Washington, DC, immediately after award. At the option of the

Government, the postaward conference may be held via teleconference. Person(s) that the contractor deems necessary

for the successful implementation of the contract must be in attendance.

ASSIGNMENT OF JACKETS, PURCHASE AND PRINT ORDERS: A GPO jacket number will be assigned and

a purchase order issued to the contractor to cover work performed. The purchase order will be supplemented by an

individual print order for each job placed with the contractor. The print order, when issued, will indicate the quantity

to be produced and any other information pertinent to the particular order.

ORDERING: Items to be furnished under the contract shall be ordered by the issuance of print orders by the

Government. Orders may be issued under the contract from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, plus for such

additional period(s) as the contract is extended. All print orders issued hereunder are subject to the terms and

conditions of the contract. The contract shall control in the event of conflict with any print order. A print order shall

be “issued” upon notification by the Government for purposes of the contract when it is electronically transmitted or

otherwise physically furnished to the contractor in conformance with the schedule.

REQUIREMENTS: This is a requirements contract for the items and for the period specified herein.

Shipment/delivery of items or performance of work shall be made only as authorized by orders issued in accordance

with the clause entitled “ORDERING.” The quantities of items specified herein are estimates only and are not

purchased hereby. Except as may be otherwise provided in this contract, if the Government’s requirements for the

items set forth herein do not result in orders in the amounts or quantities described as “estimated,” it shall not

constitute the basis for an equitable price adjustment under this contract.

Except as otherwise provided in this contract, the Government shall order from the contractor all the items set forth

which are required to be purchased by the Government activity identified on page 1.

The Government shall not be required to purchase from the contractor, requirements in excess of the limit on total

orders under this contract, if any.

Orders issued during the effective period of this contract and not completed within that time shall be completed by the

contractor within the time specified in the order, and the rights and obligations of the contractor and the Government

respecting those orders shall be governed by the terms of this contract to the same extent as if completed during the

effective period of this contract.

If shipment/delivery of any quantity of an item covered by the contract is required by reason of urgency prior to the

earliest date that shipment/delivery may be specified under this contract, and if the contractor will not accept an order

providing for the accelerated shipment/delivery, the Government may procure this requirement from another source.

The Government may issue orders which provide for shipment/delivery to or performance at multiple destinations.

Subject to any limitations elsewhere in this contract, the contractor shall furnish to the Government all items set forth

herein which are called for by print orders issued in accordance with the “ORDERING” clause of this contract.

PRIVACY ACT NOTIFICATION: This procurement action requires the contractor to do one or more of the

following: design, develop, or operate a system of records on individuals to accomplish an agency function in

accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, Public Law 93-579, December 31, 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and applicable

agency regulations. Violation of the Act may involve the imposition of criminal penalties as stated in 5 U.S.C. 552a

(i)(1) CRIMINAL PENALTIES. It is incumbent upon the contractor to inform its officers and employees of the

penalties for improper disclosure imposed by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, specifically, 5 U.S.C. 552a

(i)(1) CRIMINAL PENALTIES and m(1) GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS.

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