Open federal opportunities

Various Mailers

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE.Customer Services · Response deadline: Tue, 17 Nov 2026

What the government is buying

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is seeking vendors for various mailers—printed materials typically used for envelopes, self-mailers, and similar direct-mail products. Under NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing), this work involves offset lithographic or digital printing of folded, die-cut, or pressure-sealed mail pieces designed for postal distribution.

GPO's Customer Services directorate handles procurement for federal agencies' printing and publishing needs. Mailers in this category often include government notices, forms, informational brochures, and program announcements that agencies distribute by mail to citizens, businesses, or other stakeholders.

see the solicitation for the complete description of required sizes, paper specifications, finishing requirements, and any variable-data printing capabilities needed.

Key facts

Who can bid

This is a full and open competition with no set-aside program, meaning businesses of any size may compete. However, the printing industry has specific capabilities that GPO typically evaluates:

• Commercial printers with offset or digital production capacity
• Firms experienced in mailer formats: folded self-mailers, remittance envelopes, pressure-sealed forms, card packs, or booklet mailers
• Vendors with GPO approval or willingness to undergo GPO's plant certification process for security-sensitive work
• Companies capable of meeting GPO's stringent quality standards and postal presort requirements

Small businesses without GPO plant certification should verify whether this procurement requires it—some GPO work does, particularly for work involving sensitive documents. The notice does not indicate a small business size standard deviation from the standard 500-employee threshold for NAICS 323111.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand GPO's pricing structure. GPO solicitations typically require detailed itemized pricing per specification. Review whether the solicitation calls for pricing per thousand, per carton, or by individual mailer type.

Verify production capacity against potential volume. While quantities aren't stated in this notice, "Various Mailers" suggests multiple SKUs or intermittent production runs. Confirm your equipment can handle the full range of sizes and substrates specified.

Address postal optimization. Competitive mailer bids often differentiate on postage efficiency—automation-compatible designs, intelligent mail barcode application, and presort capabilities. Highlight these if relevant.

Submit paper and substrate alternatives carefully. GPO specifications can be rigid, but allowed alternates may offer cost advantages. Note any "or equal" provisions.

Include turnaround and surge capacity. Government mailers often tie to fixed announcement dates or regulatory deadlines. Demonstrate reliable scheduling with contingency planning.

Prepare your SAM registration and representations. Confirm active SAM.gov registration, appropriate NAICS code selection, and accurate size representation.

Next steps

1. Read the full solicitation immediately on SAM.gov using solicitation number VariousMailer884S(2026)—the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation format means the detailed requirements, pricing schedule, and evaluation criteria are available in the posted documents.

2. Note the deadline: November 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. This is a firm cutoff; GPO does not typically accept late bids.

3. Download all attachments and verify whether plant inspection, security clearance, or sample submission requirements apply.

4. Register in SAM.gov if not already active, and monitor the solicitation for amendments before the deadline.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →