FY27 MDAR RFI- Request for Interest in story ideas for the 2027 MA Agriculture Magazine

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is requesting information on story ideas and content for the 2027 Massachusetts Agriculture Magazine via RFI (Bid BD-27-1002-1003-001-131390), with responses due August 7, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. This is a non-binding information-gathering vehicle with no guaranteed compensation, contract award, or publication commitment; submission does not obligate MDAR or the contracted publication company to use any contributed content.

Responses must be submitted electronically through COMMBUYS. The RFI solicits input from the food and farming community, agricultural organizations, and stakeholders on seven proposed feature story topics: Pick-Your-Own operations, Apiary and pollinators, Massachusetts Maple production, Farmers Markets, the 1,000th Agricultural Preservation Restriction milestone, the Governor's Anti-Hunger Task Force, and Fiber production in Massachusetts and New England. Respondents provide organizational profiles, background information, contact details, and relevant story content; all information becomes public record unless otherwise exempt by law.

Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) requirements apply: respondents must commit a minimum of 1% of contract sales to SDP-certified diverse business enterprises or non-profits, with at least 25% of total available evaluation points allocated to SDP Plan submissions. Eligible diverse partners include MBE, WBE, VBE, DOBE, and other certified diverse businesses. For Small Business Purchasing Program eligible procurements, SBPP participants meeting best value criteria receive award preference. All responses must remain in effect for at least 90 days from submission. Submission must be in English with costs in U.S. currency.

Questions are due July 24, 2026. MDAR estimates notification of selected contributors by August 31, 2026. Selected respondents may be required to sign acknowledgment and release forms; photos or content may be used by MDAR and the contractor without additional compensation. The solicitation aligns with MDAR's Environmental Justice commitment, supporting applicants working with communities impacted by food injustice and climate change.