For years, consumers have written to Pueblo, Colorado 81009 for timely, practical information they trust. Now they can get this great information in the format that best suits their needs—in print, over the phone or on the web. The Federal Citizen Information Center provides the answers to questions about the Federal Government and everyday consumer issues whether citizens write, call or log on.

Since 1970, the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services. Consumers can get the information they need through printed publications, by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO, and through information posted on FCIC’s family of websites including: www.firstgov.gov, www.pueblo.gsa.gov, www.kids.gov, and www.consumeraction.gov.

FCIC can provide a wide range of information services to Federal agencies, including:

• listing your publications in the Consumer Information Catalog;

• describing your agency programs in the Consumer Action Handbook;

• identifying government/industry cooperative publishing opportunities;

• posting your information on the FCIC web site in multiple formats;

• toll-free call center services, including order fulfillment;

• print, broadcast and electronic media promotion;

• publication order fulfillment services; and

• specialized mailing services and warehousing for your publications.

FCIC does not charge your agency for Catalog or Handbook listings, for publication development services, or for online or media promotion activities. FCIC passes the costs of warehousing and publication fulfillment and specialized call center services through to each agency according to the level and kind of service provided.

FCIC revises and publishes the free Consumer Information Catalog four times a year and distributes more than 10 million copies annually, filling requests received from around the country. Each issue has descriptive listings of approximately 200 Federal publications covering everything from health to housing, from buying Federal surplus property to building careers, from credit to cars. The Catalog is made available through schools, libraries, consumer groups, Federal offices with large numbers of visitors, congressional offices and in response to individual requests.

FCIC also publishes the Lista de publicaciones Federales en espaρol para el consumidor that lists nearly 200 free Federal publications available in Spanish. The Lista provides the Federal office addresses where requests for these publications can be sent.

Your agency will also be featured in the Consumer Action Handbook, one of the most popular Federal publications ever published, with more than 9 million copies requested since 1979. Congressional offices, state and local government agencies, and libraries nationwide use the Handbook as one of their most trusted and frequently used consumer resources. The online version of the Handbook is available at ConsumerAction.gov.

Although the majority of the publications handled through FCIC are developed by Federal agencies alone, FCIC also handles publications that are developed cooperatively by several Federal agencies or by government working with private industry. FCIC is authorized to accept money from the private sector to assist with the costs of these publications.

The benefits of cooperative publishing include:

• pooling available resources (staff time, expertise, and budget);

• providing improved information from a greater number of sources; and

• expanding the reach and availability of your information.

FCIC actively seeks opportunities for government/industry collaboration and helps agencies identify appropriate and interested corporate partners.

Web Sites

Pueblo.gsa.gov
FCIC will add your agency information and publications to our award-winning web site, www.pueblo.gsa.gov. Consumers can read, print out, or save the full text of all the publications listed in the Consumer Information Catalog in multiple formats. Users can also find great information on a wide range of topics. Hundreds of publications are archived on the site and kept up-to-date and available for the public to access--whether or not printed copies are still available. Additional web features include the latest product recalls and scams, updates of consumer news items from Federal agencies, and a calendar of consumer-related events.

FirstGov.gov
FirstGov.gov is the “Front Door” to government information, services, and transactions. This site pulls together more than 26 million federal web pages in addition to 16 million state and local government pages. Here, citizens can get easy-to-understand information and services from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Kids.gov
Kids.gov is the official interagency children’s portal to the U.S. government. The site features more than 400 kid-friendly links in one easy-to-find place.

1 (800) FED INFO
FCIC manages a toll-free national contact center with specially trained staff to answer questions in English and Spanish about all aspects of the Federal government. The public can get help by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

FCIC can also provide customized call center services for your agency’s special projects. Charges for these projects depend upon the level of service required. Set-up time is minimal and short-term projects can be handled quickly and efficiently.

Media Promotion

FCIC has an ongoing nationwide media program to promote Federal consumer information through television and radio public service announcements and through the print media. Agency publications are regularly featured in FCIC "New for Consumers" press releases. FCIC credits and clears each release with the appropriate Federal agency. These releases are distributed in print and electronically to all congressional offices and to more than 10,000 newspapers and magazines, consumer organizations and state and local government agencies nationwide. Your agency liaison officer will provide you with clips from newspapers and magazines in which "New for Consumers" releases written about your publications have appeared.

Finally, FCIC works with magazines such as Family Circle and Parade to develop special promotions for individual publications. FCIC consults with agencies when planning special promotions and obtains agency approval before authorizing high volume or high visibility media placements.

The Government Printing Office facility in Pueblo, Colorado provides a wide range of order fulfillment, warehousing and distribution services – from specialized, targeted mailings to large-scale, ongoing receipt and filling of orders from the public. The facility can also meet your warehouse needs for high volume publication storage and management.

In response to Catalog orders or media mentions, the Pueblo facility fills requests promptly and accurately. FCIC can provide you with distribution statistics for your publications and estimates for annual distribution. FCIC will work with you during the early stages of the publication development process to customize a low-cost distribution package that covers both individual and bulk order fulfillment. The cost of distributing booklets through FCIC depends on which of the three pricing systems listed below your agency chooses.

a. Free booklets. The sponsoring agency prints booklets, provides copies to Pueblo and pays for distribution costs. These books are free to the public. Your agency liaison officer will go over the billing procedure and give you the most up-to-date estimate of distribution costs.

b. Low-priced publications (LPP). Publications in this program must weigh less than three ounces. The sponsoring agency prints and provides copies to Pueblo and the customer pays a small fee to cover postage and handling costs.

c. Sales booklets. The sponsoring agency turns the booklet over to the Superintendent of Documents of the U.S. Government Printing Office for printing and inclusion in the GPO sales program. GPO sets the sales price that consumers will pay to cover printing, postage and handling costs.

FCIC is a central source of Federal and consumer information for the general public. Citizens can write, call or log onto to get the most up-to-date information answering their questions about the Federal government and consumer issues. FirstGov.gov and 1 (800) FED INFO act as single points of information about the Federal government, on the web or over the phone. And its Pueblo address is known throughout the country. Together, these mean cost-effective distribution, along with more recognition for your information as a result of the Consumer Information Catalog listings, listings on the FCIC web sites and increased public awareness of your agency programs.

For more information contact Mary Levy, Director, Federal Agency Services, at (202) 501-1794 (mary.levy@gsa.gov).

Updated May 2003

This service is provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration. If you have a comment or question, e-mail us.