GPO Procures Instructional Materials for Local Schools During COVID-19

GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern

Through its print procurement program, the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has facilitated the printing of instructional materials for students in grades K–12 at the request of Washington, D.C., Public Schools. Students will use these resources while they participate in remote learning during the COVID–19 pandemic. The instructional packets, which are being delivered to students from 117 schools in the District of Columbia, contain educational material on various school subjects.

“GPO has been in the Nation’s capital since it began operations in 1861 and is honored to provide printing services and resources to our neighbors during this pandemic,” said GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern. “GPO’s longstanding partnership with the private-sector printing industry has always provided benefits for the American taxpayer, and now it is helping to give students the materials they need to continue their education while COVID–19 keeps them out of school buildings.”

Through GPOExpress, one of GPO’s convenient solutions for last-minute projects, the District of Columbia Public School system was able to get materials out to students in a matter of days. GPO will continue to procure the printing and delivery of these instructional packets until students return to school.

“We are appreciative to GPO for working with D.C. Public Schools to help us deliver the resources our students, families, and staff need during learning at home,” said District of Columbia Public Schools Director of Procurement Operations Justin Willis. “The GPO printing team ensured we got each printing of Learning at Home materials to families as quickly as possible.”

Nearly 78% of all printing ordered by federal agencies from GPO is performed by private-sector firms working under contract with the agency. GPO typically awards contracts to 1,000-2,000 printing contractors a year on a competitive basis. Nearly 10,000 companies are registered to do business with the agency, using GPO as their one-stop shop for print and related services contract opportunities. In fiscal year 2019, GPO awarded jobs to vendors in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. GPO’s relationship with the private sector dates back to the 1940s. This program provides significant economic opportunity for the printing industry and local economies.