Print & distribute bene ADV newsletter

The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) is soliciting bids for printing and distributing approximately 109,000 Benefits Advantage Newsletters to state insurance program subscribers, including retirees, COBRA recipients, and survivors. The newsletter is a 20-page, saddle-stitched publication printed on 60# white text paper with specific dimensions of 8.375" x 10.875", featuring two-color printing (black and spot color). Contractors must complete printing, perform address verification using NCOA software, conduct postal sorting, apply presort indicia, and mail the newsletters by September 23, 2022, with remaining copies delivered to PEBA's Columbia office by September 30, 2022. The bid opening date was May 27, 2022, at 11:00 AM EST, with questions due by May 17, 2022, at 5:00 PM EST. Evaluation criteria include lowest responsible and responsive bidder status, with contractors required to provide two hard copy samples of finished work, three references, proof of liability insurance, and a completed cost schedule. The contract has an initial one-year term beginning June 14, 2022, with options for two additional one-year renewals.

Bidders may claim South Carolina resident contractor preferences of 2% or 4% if meeting statutory requirements, and must submit a Certificate of Existence or Authority from the South Carolina Secretary of State. Contractors must be proficient with Adobe Creative Cloud software (InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, and PhotoShop CC) and capable of handling file transfers via FTP. The solicitation requires vendors to provide detailed cost schedules for the job, including optional pricing for quantity adjustments, reprints, signature modifications, and additional services like scanning and color separations. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract has a potential maximum duration of three years through June 13, 2025. Postage will be reimbursed separately by PEBA, and bidders must submit offers online through the state's procurement system. Contractor representatives must be knowledgeable about contract costs and capable of personally handling all copy, proofs, and related materials. The estimated annual volume is 109,000 newsletters, with pricing to be submitted for 2022, 2023, and 2024 newsletter editions.