Request for Proposals
Design of a Fermilab-SLAC Magazine
Goal: To Design and Publish A New Particle Physics Magazine
Publication: In place of their current laboratory publications, FermiNews and Beamline, the Fermilab
and Stanford linear Accelerator Center communications offices are joining forces to produce a new
particle physics magazine for a broad audience. In style, content and appearance, it should be regarded as
quite different from traditional science publications.
Purpose: The magazine will be a completely new initiative jointly undertaken by Fermilab and SLAC.
The goal is to strengthen and improve communication in the field of particle physics, leading to a
healthy and scientifically productive future for the field. The intended audience comprises policy makers
and opinion leaders; the international particle physics community; scientists from other disciplines;
teachers; students; and members of the public. The magazine will be written and graphically designed to
be attractive, useful and enjoyable to these audiences.
Editorial: The magazine will be jointly researched, managed, edited and produced by the Fermilab and
SLAC Communications Offices. Other national and international laboratories involved in particle
physics will be actively encouraged to contribute to the publication. The content will not be exclusively
particle-physics based. Articles from and on other areas of physics and science, as well as science policy,
will be integral to the concept. It will be an editorial priority to publish writers of stature on the subject
of particle physics and other branches of science and science policy.
Photography: Fermilab and SLAC have in-house visual media departments with professional
photographic staff and world-renowned photographic archives. The magazine will rely heavily on these
photographic resources as well as on the worldwide physics image bank of www.Interactions.org
Production: 10 issues of the magazine will be published each year. The magazine will be full color and
a particular effort will be made to establish dynamic graphic design and illustration. It will carry no
advertising.
Web connection: A Web edition will echo the innovative, dynamic style of the magazine.
Services sought
Fermilab seeks graphic design services for the design of a new monthly magazine as described in the
Goal, above. The successful bidder will work with Fermilab and SLAC editorial staff to plan and design
the publication from its inception. It is anticipated, although not required, that Fermilab will also
contract for production of this magazine with the firm that provides the initial design. The design
process must be complete by September 2004 in time to allow production of the magazine’s first issue
in October 2004.
The final product will be an overall design for the magazine and all its elements, as well as the design
and print-ready layout of the first issue.
Describe your firm and its capabilities
How long has your firm been in business? Who are the current principals? What are their backgrounds?
Number and type of personnel (creative, account and support)
Does your firm use freelance professionals or subcontractors?
Which members of your firm would be involved in this project? What are their backgrounds and
qualifications?
Who would take the lead in this project?
What are the hourly rates of the personnel who would be involved in this project?
Besides professional staff time, what other materials and services do you think your firm would provide
for this project? What are the unit costs or hourly rates for these materials and services?
Could your firm generate drawings, illustrations, charts, graphs and other graphic elements that might be
required?
Would project personnel be available for frequent meetings with magazine editorial staff on the
Fermilab site?
Has your firm previously designed a magazine?
The new magazine’s design must convey its “outside the box” purpose and mission, different from
standard science or trade publications. What projects has your firm done that demonstrate the creativity
and innovative approach necessary to succeed in designing this magazine?
Clients with whom your firm has worked on similar or applicable projects.
What design software and other technical resources does your firm use?
Could your firm produce a design in the time required, by mid-September 2004?
Does your firm routinely work with printers in the print production process? Would your firm be
available for press checks?
Has your firm ever worked with the Government Printing Office?
Please provide a list of major clients.
Please provide three client references.
What is your firm’s Web site?
Portfolio: Please provide, electronically or on paper, or both, examples of work by your firm that you
feel best represent your capability to carry out this project successfully.