The U.S. Government Printing Office, Specialized Procurement and Sales Section, Mail Stop MMPS, Washington, DC 20401

B -- OUTSOURCING THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND/OR THE FEDERAL REGISTER DUE 022797 POC Joel Hettger/Donna Simms (202) 512-0937 E-MAIL: Contact the Contracting Office via E-mail, dsimms@gpo.gov. The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is seeking a contract for an independent outside expert to conduct a study to determine if cost effective opportunities exist to privatize certain GPO Printing Plant fuctions. The study should include the feasibility of outsourcing the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD and/or the FEDERAL REGISTER while, to the maximum extent practicable, utilizing the current workforce and the installed equipment base. Another option to be considered is the cost-benefit of converting to a two-shift operation at the plant. These studies should be conducted in consultation with the Joint Committee on Printing and should reflect the needs of GPO's Congressional client base. Other factors to be considered are: 1) How legislation flows through Congress.; 2) The laws governing the flow of legislation and the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.; 3) Promulgation of administrative and regulatory law in the FEDERAL REGISTER should also be considered.; 4) The current procedures used by Congressional/Federal Register staffs to submit legislation/publications to the GPO for printing.; 5) GPO's support funtions which includes facilities, personnel, procurement of paper, material and supplies, and equipment capabilities used to meet Congressional requirements. This would include but not be limited to: same-day, overnight turnaround requirements; the peaks and valleys in the volume of printing requests; and efforts to capture electronic databases at the source.; 6) Congress's efforts to move toward a "Cyber-Congress."; 7) GPO's efforts to retrain personnel and develop online dissemination products.; 8) The technologies available in the private sector, that if made available to GPO, would permit GPO to produce its products faster and at lower costs.; 9) The laws requiring special programs that affect GPO's Scale of Prices but which are not required in the private sector.; 10) The obligations for public information dissemination.; and 11) The requirements to fully meet the needs of GPO's Congressional client base. Thesuccessful contractor is precluded from any follow-on contract arising from completion of this contract. A pre-solicitation conference will be held February 27, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. at the GPO, 732 North Capitol Street, NW, 8th Floor, Carl Hayden Room; those seeking to attend should contact Donna Simms or Joel Hettger at (202) 512-0937; fax (202) 512-1354; E-mail dsimms@gpo.gov. Supplemental information will then be sent to the respondees.***** (0028)

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