Yellow Broken Bar.pdf

This is a solicitation document from the State of Maine's Division of Purchases for newspaper distribution services related to the 2011 Unclaimed Property Ad List Insert. The State seeks bids for placement and distribution of a 20-page broadsheet insert across eight newspapers in central and southern Maine during April 2011. The scope includes delivery one week prior to publication, with total circulation across all placements reaching 248,500 copies. Target publications include the Bangor Daily News (67,300 circulation) and multiple Maine Sunday Telegram editions (100,700 copies combined), along with five additional regional newspapers. Delivery locations include printing and distribution centers in South Portland and individual newspaper offices in Brunswick, Hampden, Biddeford, and Lewiston. Bids are due electronically by 2:00 p.m. local time on February 24, 2011, with an allowable overrun not to exceed 3%. The contract may be extended beyond the initial term at the discretion of the State Purchasing Director with contractor consent, with a maximum total period not to exceed three years.

The total program cost is $14,497.70, with individual newspaper placement costs ranging from $267.46 to $4,291.80 based on circulation size and flat rates per broadsheet ranging from $45.00 to $62.20. The State of Maine is exempt from Federal and Maine State Sales and Use Taxes, and quotes must exclude these taxes. Award will be made to the lowest responsible bidder offering best value, considering quality, conformity to specifications, delivery dates, and overall State interests. A tie-bid preference applies to in-state vendors or those offering commodities produced or manufactured in Maine. Additionally, a recycled content preference program applies to paper products: bids offering a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled material content that fall within 10% of the lowest responsive bid may receive up to a 10% price preference, provided vendors explicitly indicate this election and disclose recycled content percentage in their response.