United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/13th Congress/3rd Session/Resolution 11
XI. A Resolution, directing the manner of providing stationery and procuring the printing for the Senate and House of Representatives.
Stationery and printing for Congress.Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the secretary of the Senate and clerk of the House of Representatives be directed, immediately after the adjournment of the present and each succeeding Congress, to advertise three weeks successively, in two newspapers printed in the district of Columbia, for proposals for supplying the Senate and House of Representatives, during the succeeding Congress, with the necessary stationery and printing; which advertisement shall describe the kind of stationery and printing required: and that the proposals to be made accompanied with sufficient security for their performance. And it shall be the duty of the secretary and clerk aforesaid, in the month of April thereafter, to notify the lowest bidder or bidders (whose securities are deemed sufficient) of the acceptance of his or their proposals: Provided, That this resolution shall not be so construed as to prevent the secretary and clerk aforesaid from contracting for separate parts of the supplies of stationery and printing required to be furnished.
Approved, March 3, 1815.