2027 Vacation Guide - Print Project

The South Dakota Department of Tourism, through the Bureau of Human Resources and Administration, is soliciting proposals for the printing, binding, packaging, palletization, and delivery of the 2027 South Dakota Vacation Guide. The contract requires the production of 250,000 guides, with a maximum 1% overrun, featuring a trim size of 8” x 10.125” and a configuration of 244 text pages plus a fold-out back cover. All guides must be printed on virgin paper stock, as recycled or post-consumer materials are prohibited. The project involves a split delivery schedule, with 75,000 guides due by January 6, 2027, and the remaining 175,000 guides due by January 29, 2027, to a location in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The initial purchase order covers the 2027 edition, with the possibility of two additional one-year renewals. The State intends to award the contract on a best-value basis, evaluating proposals based on vendor experience, production and quality-control approaches, packaging and delivery plans, project schedule and capacity, and total firm-fixed price. Vendors are responsible for all costs, including freight, fuel, and liftgate services, and must maintain automobile liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per accident. Packaging requirements are strict, necessitating that guides be uniformly packed on skids with specific protections such as cardboard sheets, hardboard corner protection, and metal banding, with skids not exceeding 40 inches in height. Proposals must be submitted electronically via email by September 9, 2026, and must include an executive summary, vendor qualifications, a production approach, and a project schedule.