Overview
FAR 8.802 establishes that the Government Publishing Office (GPO) is the mandatory source for all government printing services, subject to limited exceptions. It mandates centralized agency oversight and defines specific sourcing requirements for printing-related supplies like paper and envelopes.
Key Rules
- Mandatory Sourcing: Government printing must be performed by or through the GPO unless GPO cannot provide the service, the agency operates its own field printing plant, specific allotments for contract field printing are used, or another statute specifically authorizes an alternative.
- Central Printing Authority: Each agency head must designate a central authority to oversee printing matters and act as a liaison with the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP) and the Public Printer.
- Contracting Officer (CO) Approval: COs are prohibited from contracting for printing, composition, binding, or micrographics—whether as a standalone requirement or as part of a larger contract for services—without prior approval from the agency’s designated central printing authority.
- Paper and Envelopes: Agencies within the District of Columbia must source common-use paper and envelopes through the Public Printer. Agencies outside of D.C. must requisition these items through the General Services Administration (GSA).
Practical Implications
- Procurement Lead Times: Contracting Officers must factor in additional lead time for internal agency approvals from the central printing authority before initiating a solicitation that includes printing requirements.
- Contract Bundling Risks: Agencies cannot circumvent GPO requirements by embedding significant printing tasks within broader service contracts (e.g., management or consulting contracts) without explicit authorization, as this is a frequent point of regulatory non-compliance.