Industry Contracting Guide
Government Contracts for Printing & Publishing
GPO and agency-level print buys still constitute a stable niche — security printing, IRS forms, congressional records, and military training materials.
Industry snapshot
- Average contract size
- $50K–$10M
- Common certifications
- FSC · ISO 14001 · 8(a)
Common government buyers
- Department of Defense (DoD)
National defense and military operations
Typical contract types
- FFP
- BPA
- IDIQ
Challenges to expect
- FSC paper-grade rules
- GPO Term Contract bidding
- Security-printing controls
Where the opportunities are right now
- GPO Term Contracts
- IRS forms printing
- DOD training material reproduction
Most relevant NAICS codes
States with the most printing & publishing contracting activity
FAQs
- What agencies buy the most printing & publishing services?
- Top federal buyers for printing & publishing include GPO, TREAS, Department of Defense.
- What is the typical contract size in printing & publishing?
- Average federal contract size in printing & publishing ranges $50K–$10M, with the largest awards typically flowing through IDIQ MATOC pools and BPAs.
- Which NAICS codes apply to printing & publishing?
- The most relevant NAICS codes are 323111 (); 323117 (); 323120 ().
- What certifications matter most in printing & publishing contracting?
- Common gating certifications include FSC, ISO 14001, 8(a). Set-aside certifications (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) layer on top for small businesses.
- What are the biggest challenges for new entrants?
- FSC paper-grade rules; GPO Term Contract bidding; Security-printing controls. These are surmountable but should be priced into your B&P investment.