T -- PHOTOGRAPHIC, MAPPING, PRINTING, & PUBLICATION SERVICES

Notice Date

May 2, 2001

Contracting Office

Fleet & Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk Detachment Washington, Washington Navy Yard, 1014 N Street SE, Suite400, Washington DC 20374-5014

ZIP Code

20374-5014

Point of Contact

Henry Alford (202) 433-4264, FAx (202) 433-5414 or email henry_alford@fmso.navy.mil

E-Mail Address

henry_alford@fmao.navy.mil (henry_alford@fmso.navy.mil)

Description

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION PART: U.S. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENTS OFFADD: Nautical Almanac Office, U.S. Naval Observatory, 3450 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20392-5420 POC: Henry Alford (202) 433-4264, Fax (202) 433-5414 or email henry_alford@fmso.navy.mil SUBJECT: PUBLICATION OF THE ASTRONOMICAL ALMANAC DESC: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT -- MARKET SURVEY/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO), Nautical Almanac Office is conducting a market survey to assess the capability of a private publisher to print, market, and sell the "Astronomical Almanac" in a timely and cost effective manner, while maintaining the current quality and presentation of the book. The "Astronomical Almanac" is a yearly joint publication of the USNO and Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office (HMNAO) in the United Kingdom. The "Astronomical Almanac" contains precise ephemerides of the Sun, Moon, planets, and satellites, data for eclipses, and other astronomical phenomena for a given year. Samples of the book may be obtained from the POC. Typically there are about 530 pages in the book. The specifications used for the most recent edition are as follows. USNO provided the material to be printed as camera ready copy. The text was White Offset Book sub 40 lb. (JCP Code A60) and was of uniform shade. The cover was Medium Blue Pyroxylin Impregnated Book Cloth (equal to Hollister's Roxite B Vellum, Finish #51047-K16). The binder boards were Book Cover Board, 2.5mm (JCP Code R30). The end leaves were White Machine Finish Book End Paper sub 80 lb. (JCP A50). The book was Smyth sewn, case-bound with pasted, plain endleaves, 3 sides trimmed, round, back, and headboard with blue and yellow bands. The back was reinforced with crash and strong paper liner. It was a case bind with 181 x 260mm squares and stamped spine in imitation gold (equivalent to General Roll Leaf Corporation's S-14). The printing was text head-to-head in black ink. It met the following attributes: Printing Level III; Finishing Level III. The Non-Destructive Test met General Inspection Level I; Destructive Tests met Special Inspection Level S-2. These specifications are not rigid and are offered as guidance only. The last edition had a press run of 4,060 copies. To satisfy regulations 995 copies were made available to the Depository Libraries and 15 copies were sent to the Library of Congress. The Stationary Office in the UK purchased 1000 copies (at the running cost of the book) for sale in the UK. USNO received 800 copies. The remainder of the copies was offered for public sale. The information contributed to the book by USNO (approximately 50%) is in the public domain. Information contributed by HMNAO (approximately 50%) is under copyright. Interested sources are encouraged to submit the following information at no cost or obligation to the Government within 30 days of publication of this notice: An analysis statement that includes and is not limited to (a) the estimated cost, if any, to the Government to print under the specifications provided in this synopsis, (b) projected sales price of the book, (c) suggested changes to the specifications to decrease cost and improve marketability, (d) a possible sales marketing plan, (e) a plan to provide royalties to HMNAO, (f) an estimated value of that royalty per book, (g) options for handling the obligatory distribution to the Library of Congress, the Depository Libraries, and USNO, (h) a sales plan that handles resellers of the book, both national and international. The Government is especially interested in plans that cover printing, marketing, and public-sales costs through sales of the book. Include the company name, address (including electronic websites), POC, telephone and fax numbers. USNO does not intend to conduct written or oral discussions regarding the information received as a result of the Market Survey/RFI. This Market Survey/RFI is for information purposes only. This Market Survey/RFI is neither a Screening Information Request (SIR) nor release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) of any kind, and does not guarantee procurement of the underlying services. Further, USNO is neither seeking nor accepting unsolicited proposals. All interested parties are advised that USNO will not provide reimbursement for any information provided or any other costs incurred that are associated with any response received from industry to this market survey announcement. Therefore any costs associated with market survey submissions will be solely at the interested parties expense. The point of contact is Henry Alford, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, 1014 N Street SE Suite 400, Washington, DC 20374-5014

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010504/TSOL003.HTM (W-122 SN50K8L0)