SAVE Award 2011 Government Printing Office

I recommend that an audit be done of all publications that are printed and or mailed, especially those that are free.

We should allow these documents to be generated and printed but the requester should pay for them not the general tax payer and we shouldn't be printing and mailing things that are not wanted or wasted.

In numerous examples when this was done huge savings were realized by eliminating the printing of... more »

eliminate printing of code of federal regulation books - while this information is critical in many government jobs, this information is all available online - easily accessible and searchable - huge savings to eliminate the printing of all of the CFR books!

There are innumerable mailings from the federal government that undoubtedly cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year. If we can cut down on even a small fraction of these physical mailings a substantial savings can be realized. I propose establishing a centralized "GO-PAPERLESS" registry where citizens can provide an email address and receive all notifications electronically. This is the way of the future. It is... more »

The Federal Register allows for electronic submission, but many agencies are slow in making the conversion. A deadline should be imposed by which all agencies will be required to submit electronically. This will save trips/courier costs, paper (FR requires single-sided, double spaced), CDs, and time.

The Government should look into certifying Visual Information Specialist to do print buying at a local level rather than sending job to GPO. Industry standards outside of the Government more often than not have the designer/VIS personal do the print buying. This would eliminate the need for extra staff at GPOs, and save money in time and supplies at the local level. It would make for shorter turnaround times to complete... more »

With the internet, one can rapidly find the best prices and compare products. The desktop publishing revolution is 24 years old, and we no longer need a babysitter to help us prep "camera ready" artwork. Furthermore, when a user really knows what they want, GPO is more of a hindrance than a help. I think that any savings that GPO produces is more than offset by the cost of operating that part of the federal government.... more »

Each year we receive numerous printed copies of the Code of Federal Regulations while at the time the volume is printed, the material is already outdated. The Online E-CFR is the most update version of the Code of Federal Regulations. GPO should discontinue printing copies for Government Agencies. They should be accessing the publicaiton online.

Require the passport to be printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Eliminate the need for GPO to print any secure documents. Engraving and Printing has the infrastructure of resources to produce the passport.

The government printing office sends out thousands of posters, flyers, manuals ECT. Often these are not needed by the office that receives them or the quantity is excessive and they end up in the trash. I believe if each office received an e-mail with the item to be sent was received first. The receiving office could request, if any the number of copies required. This would not only cut printing cost, it would reduce... more »

e-Books:

Most Federal agencies order training manuals each year. Most of these orders are repetitive in nature and require $10,000’s of dollars each year per agency to reprint and redistribute the revised version which adds up to $100,000.00 each year.

Most people have a device that can be used as an e-Book reader or for the cost of one printing and distribution, e-Book readers (a one time cost) could be purchased... more »

We need to print in English only. I am not a bigot, but the cost of printing/providing bi-lingual materials has got to be out of this world. For example: Take a trip to your local DMV, people can test in almost any language...Our signs are in ENGLISH, so how does that work? Can't read or write ENGLISH but can drive our roadways with the signage being in ENGLISH. This is America, we aren't helping folks assimilate, so... more »

SSA Field offices receive more public information posters than they can put up in the office and community. Give offices the option to order the number needed before they are mailed out. The same is true of seasonal time publications.

Title 44 intended to centralize printing in order to manage costs. Revisit the intent and enforce, if it is a good idea. Consolidate all USG printing with an eye for eliminating local printing by statute. Require GPO to make printing more accessible and cost-effective at an agreeable SLA - more use of GPOExpress and development of online print submission and where volume supports, local printing under GPO controls.... more »