Circular Letters

Circular Letter No. 1151

March 13, 2025

TO: Printing and Publishing Officials of the Federal Government

SUBJECT: Planning for Government Publishing & Print Procurement Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations

In the event of a Government-wide funding lapse, the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is prepared to help you plan in advance for support of your agency’s mission essential, excepted publishing needs. We encourage you to contact your DC or Regional APS procurement team prior to the potential shutdown on Friday evening, March 14, 2025, to discuss your anticipated specific needs.

If you are a funded (excepted) agency* you may continue to use your GPO term contracts, GPO’s SPA program, and your GPOExpress account to meet immediate printing, publishing, and duplicating needs that are excepted activities under the Antideficiency Act based on your agency’s authority and approval.

GPOExpress Information: https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-foragencies/gpoexpress

If emergency printing or publishing requirements that are excepted activities under the Antideficiency Act arise during the shutdown, contact your GPO procurement team email address listed on https://www.gpo.gov/how-to-work-with-us/agency/services-for-agencies/ procurement-services-team for assistance. An excepted GPO teammate will contact you shortly.

During a shutdown, contractors should continue work on contracts already awarded. Alternative delivery instructions or proofing requirements, if applicable, may need to be made prior to the shutdown and should be conveyed to the GPO procurement team that awarded the contract. GPO will need to issue a contract modification for any changes, and additional costs may be incurred.

Additional guidance is provided by the White House in Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2023/09/Agency-Lapse-FAQs-9.27.2023.pdf

Sincerely,

TED PRIEBE
Managing Director, Government Publishing & Print Procurement

*Agencies should refer to relevant legal opinions issued by the Attorney General and the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice. which set forth the legal requirements imposed by the Antideficiency Act (Act) during a lapse in appropriations and the guiding standards agencies should use in making decisions under the Act during a lapse in appropriations. - OMB Memorandum M-13-22. Dated September 17. 2013.

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