Massachusetts Recreational Saltwater Fishing Guide Publication and Delivery

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is requesting responses for design, production, and delivery of a Recreational Saltwater Fishing Guide publication, with responses due September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST and anticipated award notification by October 5, 2026. The procurement is subject to the Massachusetts Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP), and SBPP-registered participants meeting the best value criteria receive award preference over non-SBPP bidders.

The scope includes 65,000 total copies of a 52-page magazine-like booklet (5,000 Show Edition by January 15, 2027, and 60,000 Final Edition by April 30, 2027), measuring 8 by 10.5 inches and containing saltwater fishing laws, regulations, and recreational information for Massachusetts. Deliverables also include high-resolution and interactive Adobe PDF versions and an accessible web-based version. The contractor must solicit advertisements to offset costs, with at least 15 percent of advertising coming from Massachusetts-based businesses. All advertisements require DMF approval prior to publication. The contractor must provide samples of comparable past work and documentation of advertising solicitation experience.

The estimated total contract value is $132,000 with a maximum annual DMF payment of $22,000 per year; the contractor generates remaining compensation through approved advertising placement. The initial contract term runs from October 2026 through June 30, 2029, with three one-year renewal options available for a potential six-year maximum duration.

Evaluation allocates 100 points across Compliance with Required Specifications (40 points), Advertising experience (15 points), Price (15 points), Vendor Experience with preference for more than 10 years of comparable projects (15 points), and Production and Delivery Timeframe (15 points). All responses must be submitted electronically through COMMBUYS. The Commonwealth retains sole ownership of all work product, including design files, artwork, and images; contractors are prohibited from seeking copyright protection.