INVITATION FOR COMPETITIVE BIDS
For Publication of Legal Notices
Notice is hereby given that the City of Starkville, Mississippi (the "City"), will receive competitive bids for entering into a contract for the publication of legal notices of the City, in accordance with Section 21-39-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.
Scope of Services
The contract will cover the publication of all legal notices required by law to be published by the City of Starkville during the contract period.
Bidder Qualifications
All bidders must be qualified newspapers and shall submit sufficient information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Section 13-3-31 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, including but not limited to, a verified certification as to each category A-H below, that the bidding newspaper:
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Maintains a general circulation predominantly to bona fide paying subscribers within the City of Starkville.
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The phrase
"general
circulation" means numerically substantially substantial, geographically widespread, demographically diversified circulation to bona fide paying subscribers.
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The phrase "bona fide paying subscribers" means persons who have subscribed at a subscription rate which is not nominal, whether by mail subscriptions, purchase through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sellers, or any combination thereof, but shall not include free circulation, sales at a token or nominal subscription price and sales in bulk for purposes other than for resale for individual subscribers.
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Maintains a legitimate list of its bona fide paying subscribers by the following categories where applicable:
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Mail subscribers
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Dealers and carriers; and
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Street vendors and counter sellers.
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Is not published primarily for advertising purposes and has not contained more than seventy-five percent (75%) advertising in more than one-half (1/2) of its issues during the period of twelve (12) months next prior to the first publication of any legal notice therein, excluding separate advertising supplements inserted into but separately identifiable from any regular issue or issues;
D Has been established and published continuously for at least twelve (12) months next prior to the first publication of such matter to be published, is regularly issued at stated intervals no less frequently than once a week, bears a date of issue, and is numbered consecutively; provided however, that publication on legal holidays of this state or the federal government and on Saturdays and Sundays shall not be required, and failure to publish not more than two (2) regular issues in any calendar year shall not disqualify a paper otherwise qualified.
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Is issued from a known office of publication, which shall be the principal public business office of the newspaper and need not be the place at which the newspaper's printing presses are located.
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Is formed of printed sheets. However, the word
"printed"
does not include reproduction by the stencil, mimeograph or hectograph process.
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Is originated and published for the dissemination of current news and intelligence of varied, broad and general public interest, announcements and notices, opinions as editorials on a regular or irregular basis, and advertising and miscellaneous reading matter.
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Is not designed primarily for free circulation or for circulation at nominal rates.
Bid Submission Requirements
Each bid shall include:
-
Proposed rate(s)
for publication of legal notices (cents per word for the first Insertion and the cents per word for each subsequent Insertion.
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All
documentation
specified below:
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Independently audited circulation information or an affidavit from an independent journalism expert providing that, after analysis of the books and records of the bidding paper and this invitation for competitive bids, he or she is of the opinion that:
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the bidding newspaper is one of "general circulation" to
"bona
fide paying subscribers" within the City of Starkville,
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the bidding newspaper maintains a list of its bona fide paying subscribers, including the number of mail subscribers, dealers and carriers and street vendors and sellers
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the bidding newspaper is not published primarily for advertising purposes and has not contained more than seventy-five percent (75%) advertising in more than one-half (1/2) of its issues during the period of twelve (12) months next prior to the first publication of any legal notice therein, excluding separate advertising supplements inserted into but separately identifiable from any regular issue or issues;
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the bidding newspaper has been established and published continuously for at least twelve (12) months next prior to the first publication of such matter to be published, is regularly issued at stated intervals no less frequently than once a week, bears a date of issue, and is numbered consecutively; provided however, that publication on legal holidays of this state or the federal government and on Saturdays and Sundays shall not be required, and failure to publish not more than two (2) regular issues in any calendar year shall not disqualify a paper otherwise qualified.
-
the bidding newspaper
is
issued from a known office of publication, which shall be the principal public business office of the newspaper and need not be the place at which the newspaper's printing presses are located.
-
the bidding newspaper is formed of printed sheets. However, the word "printed" does not include reproduction by the stencil, mimeograph or hectograph process.
-
The bidding newspaper is originated and published for the dissemination of current news and intelligence of varied, broad and general public interest, announcements and notices, opinions as editorials on a regular or irregular basis, and advertising and miscellaneous reading matter.
-
The bidding newspaper is not designed primarily for free circulation or for circulation at nominal rates.
Deadline:
Sealed bids must be
received no later than:
March 18
,
2026 at 10:00A.M.
Submit bids to
City of Starkville, City Clerk’s Office
110 West Main Street, Starkville, MS 39759 or at
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. Bids received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Award of Contract
The
contract will be
awarded to
the
lowest
responsive bidder
meeting
all
statutory requirements
and bid requirements. The City of Starkville reserves the right to
reject any and all bids,
to waive informalities, and to accept the bid deemed to be the lowest bid.
Additional
Information
For questions or to request additional information, contact:
Joanna McLaurin, City Clerk
662-323-2525
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