2026 Tatanka (Custer State Park Magazine)

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks is seeking a vendor to print the 2026 Tatanka (Custer State Park Magazine) through a competitive procurement process. The project requires producing 260,000 magazines with specific technical specifications, including a 40-page format (4 cover, 36 interior) sized 8-1/4" x 10-7/8", completed in Indesign by December 4, 2024. Delivery requirements are structured in two primary batches: 155,000 copies to Custer State Park by January 5, 2026, and 100,000 copies on June 15, 2026, with additional smaller quantities to be distributed to various South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks offices. Printing specifications mandate full bleed two sides, 80# gloss text covers with varnish or aqueous coating, 50# gloss text interior pages, four-color ink, and saddle stitching. The vendor must submit a color proof, with zero percent over/under run permitted, and use environmentally preferable paper products meeting specific certification standards such as Green Seal or Ecologo. The proposal is due by November 4, 2025, with the final magazine design to be delivered no later than December 4, 2024.

The procurement appears open to qualified vendors without explicit set-aside designations, though the state's Vendor Manual emphasizes preferences for resident businesses and minority business enterprises. Vendors must comply with South Dakota's procurement guidelines, which include non-discrimination policies and fair business practices. While no incumbent vendor is specified, respondents must meet comprehensive qualification standards outlined in the SDVendorManual_20240822.pdf, including potential requirements for business registration, tax compliance, and insurance. The project involves producing magazines with an environmentally conscious approach, requiring vendors to use recycled or certified sustainable paper products and include a "Printed On Recycled Paper" statement. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the project's scale of 260,000 magazines suggests a substantial printing contract. Vendors must be prepared to handle complex printing specifications, manage precise delivery logistics, and demonstrate capabilities in magazine production and environmental sustainability.