Official City Organ and Newspaper Advertising

The City of Waco, Texas is seeking a newspaper of general circulation to serve as the Official City Organ for publishing municipal notices, ordinances, and other legally required communications through Request for Bid (RFB) 2025-014. The selected newspaper must publish at least weekly, hold periodical mailing privileges in McLennan County, and devote a minimum of 25% of column space to general interest items. Bidders are required to provide comprehensive pricing for legal notices, including detailed rates for daily (Monday-Saturday) and weekend publications across various notice types such as bid notices, weed and grass notifications, ordinance announcements, and planning commission communications. Key deliverables include the ability to receive notices in multiple formats, provide publication affidavits within 24 hours, deliver copies to city offices, and submit detailed invoices within 30 days of publication. The bid opening is scheduled for March 21, 2025, at 2:05 PM CT, with bidder questions due by March 7, 2025. Evaluation criteria will focus on providing the best value to the City, with consideration given to pricing, distribution capabilities, and overall responsiveness to the bid requirements.

There are no specific set-aside designations or enterprise restrictions mentioned in the bid documents. The contract will commence on the first day of the month following City Council award and continue for 19 months, with an estimated contract value of $100,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026. Bidders must demonstrate continuous publication for at least 12 months prior to the bid notice and provide circulation data by zip code to prove general distribution throughout Waco. The City reserves the right to publish notices in alternative publications as needed. Potential bidders must submit comprehensive pricing sheets, including rates for legal and non-legal sections, with options for early payment discounts within 30 days of invoice acceptance. The virtual bid opening will be conducted via Zoom, with access provided through a specific meeting link and dial-in options. Notably, the City maintains its rights under the Texas Government Code Section 2251 (Prompt Payment Act) and will select the vendor that provides the most advantageous proposal based on overall value and meeting all specified requirements.