Alumni Magazine Services

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy, located in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, is seeking a vendor to provide comprehensive alumni magazine services. The agency requires editorial and design management for a publication with a circulation of approximately 15,000. The selected partner will solve the agency's need for professional publication management by developing overall themes, establishing editorial direction, and maintaining Academy brand and style standards. The scope of work covers design and layout services aligned with the existing template, as well as the creation of two to three preliminary design directions for the cover and feature story. The vendor must collect and manage production-ready artwork, prepare final files for the printer, and archive all design and production files. Additional responsibilities include drafting print specifications with paper recommendations, reviewing up to two rounds of press proofs, and supervising press checks during printing. The physical specifications for the magazine require a finished size of 8.5 by 11 inches, printed in four-color throughout with full bleeds. The agency is considering two length options, which are either 32 pages plus covers or 36 pages plus covers. Paper requirements specify 80-pound gloss text for inside pages and 80-pound gloss cover stock, using Endurance or a similar brand, with binding to be proposed as either saddle-stitch or perfect bound. Eligibility is restricted to onshore organizations based in the United States. The agency permits the performance of the work to take place offsite. The agency is looking for budget proposals to determine the cost of the project. Questions regarding this procurement must be submitted no later than June 15, 2026.