Fish and Wildlife Annual Magazines

The State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is seeking a vendor to design, produce, and print three annual magazines: the Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Freshwater Fishing Magazine, and Hunting and Trapping Magazine. The procurement involves comprehensive publishing services, including design, layout, production, and printing of both print and digital formats (PDF, page-flipper, web-edition, and mobile app versions). The total estimated print run is 68,000 copies, with 25,000 copies each for the Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing Magazines and 18,000 copies for the Hunting and Trapping Magazine. Target shelf dates are January 30 for the Freshwater Fishing Magazine, March 31 for the Saltwater Fishing Magazine, and July 22 for the Hunting and Trapping Magazine. The solicitation was released on September 7, 2022, with responses due by October 7, 2022, at 1:30 PM EDT. A vendor Q&A period was available from September 7 to September 21, 2022, during which potential bidders could submit questions through the Ocean State Procures system. The initial contract term is set for approximately October 15, 2023, through September 30, 2026, with no renewal options.

The procurement includes a mandatory 10% participation requirement for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), with vendors required to submit an MBE Utilization Plan to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity for review and approval. All vendors must be registered in the Ocean State Procures electronic procurement system to submit proposals, with no alternative submission methods accepted. The RFQ specifies standard insurance requirements, including general liability, workers' compensation, automobile liability, and potentially technology/cyber coverage. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the contract suggests a significant publishing services engagement. Vendors must comply with Rhode Island's affirmative action policies and provide various vendor certifications regarding conflicts of interest, political contributions, and business practices. Delivery terms are specified as Free On Board Destination, with payment terms to be specified by the vendor. No information about incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure was provided in the solicitation documents.