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FEB - 8 1994 <br />I 8 C BID #40554 , <br />PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES <br />BOOK <br />Bid Analysis by Office of the County Attorney: <br />y, <br />The County received two bids one from the Press -Journal and one <br />from Par Publishing, Inc., d/b/a Sebastian Sun and Vero Beach <br />Sun. A complete copy of each bid is attached. This is not your <br />usual bid comparison because there are major differences other <br />than cost in each proposal. <br />In addition to the information specifically requested, the <br />Press -Journal has provided additional information which is <br />included in the the attachment. In the main, it raises questions <br />as to whether the Sun newspapers fit the required legal definition. <br />If the County should seek a declaratory judgment on this, that <br />would, of course, be dispositive of the issue. <br />The. salient facts in comparing the bids appear to be the following: <br />Price Per ' Square Inch <br />1st & 2nd insertion. <br />Published <br />I .I 1. <br />F;irculition I. <br />Press -Journal <br />$3.46-$2.77 <br />7 days a week <br />33,112 daily <br />35,695 Sunday <br />Sun <br />$3.00-2.70 <br />once a week <br />19,560 <br />The other information developed by the bids goes primarily to <br />whether the newspapers meet the statutory test. Clearly the <br />Press -Journal is eligible. The Sun newspapers eligibility would be <br />subject to a court determination. Therefore, this other information <br />appears not to' be decisional as are the above three items. <br />It should be noted that the bidding process, no matter which <br />entity is selected, will have resulted in a significant reduction in <br />publishing costs. Using the per column inch rate, the County was <br />paying the Press -Journal of $9.74 and under the current <br />Press -Journal bid the . price would - be $7.0 -per column inch. - . The <br />saving is apparent. <br />Turning to the above comparison of the 3 - items; _it appears that <br />.both bids offer advantages. - The Sun is cheaper. - The Press - <br />Journal has 'a much greater ch-culation and is published *7 days a <br />week which facilitates advertising of notices. If -the County wants <br />to meet minimum standards for publication the Sun should be the <br />selection. If the County wants to assure that the notices will be <br />.seen by- _ as. -many_ residents as - possible then -the Press -Journal <br />should be - selected : One fact which was -.not. -developed by -: the _ bid'_ <br />process would be the- -number of newspapers -mailed to' out- -town_, <br />subscribers. -- -This could- be -important for -- to. the extent <br />practicable, that absentee owners had --an opportunity_ to be aware <br />of actions which could_affect _them._ <br />One solution that might come to mind is to divide the advertising. <br />It is staff's opinion that this may not be legal or practical. Under <br />Section 197.402, F.S., it appears that one newspaper must be <br />selected for notices by the tax collector. While there is no <br />specific section requiring one newspaper for other required notices <br />it would probably create confusion in the mind of the public and <br />require a diligent search of both publications to make sure one was <br />not missing a legal notice. Therefore, it is staff's recommendation <br />that only one newspaper be selected. <br />6 <br />- M <br />