UPFRONT

Bids Taken for 2004 Budget

WASHINGTON—The Bush administration has advertised for competitive bids to print four of the five volumes of the president's 2004 budget. The Congress' Government Printing Office—which has been the official printer since 1921—will still produce the largest volume, which requires specialized work, but must now join the open bidding process for the other four volumes. In May, the White House Office of Management and Budget announced that the administration would open up bidding to outside printers for executive branch printing work.