City of Santa Clarita
Re: RESPONSE FILE:
QWP DIRECT MAIL, INC. DBA Mellady Direct Marketing
History of Company Letter or Memo
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
Proposal # COM-25-26-11
November 20, 2025
1.1.1 Introduction and History
Mellady Direct Marketing is a full-service printing and mailing firm headquartered in Santa Clarita, California. Founded in 1986, the company has grown into a comprehensive production operation with digital and offset printing, data processing, and complete mailing services performed under one roof.
For nearly four decades, Mellady Direct has supported public agencies, municipalities, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and private-sector clients with high-volume, deadline-sensitive print and mail projects. Our facility is equipped to manage complex production schedules, maintain strict quality control, and execute campaigns from initial concept through final delivery.
Our longstanding presence in Santa Clarita, combined with a proven record of on-time and on-budget performance, positions Mellady Direct as a dependable partner for large-scale, recurring print and mail programs such as Seasons Magazine, the State of the City newsletter, and other outreach initiatives.
Number of Customers:
Mellady Direct currently services over 430 active clients across the public and private sectors.
Size of Firm: 19 full-time employees, 2 part-time employees, and 15 temporary employees Number of Years in the Print & Mail Business: 39 Years
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1 Management Overview
Upon award of contract, Mellady Direct will establish a detailed project timeline outlining all production milestones, proofing checkpoints, mailing preparation, and delivery expectations.
Our project management approach includes:
• Proactive communication: All client emails are answered within 24 hours or sooner. • Scheduled status reporting: Regular updates are provided throughout printing, bindery, and mailing preparation.
• Operational reliability: Physical deliveries to the City of Santa Clarita are made between 9 a.m. and 2pm, on all business working days, ensuring consistent receipt and workflow. • Quality assurance: With all production performed in-house, Mellady Direct maintains full control over accuracy, color consistency, finishing, and packaging.
Our leadership team has decades of industry experience and oversees all aspects of production, scheduling, and postal compliance. This experience, coupled with robust internal systems, ensures deadlines are met, quality standards are upheld, and any potential issues are identified and resolved early in the process.
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2 City of Santa Clarita
Re: RESPONSE FILE:
QWP DIRECT MAIL, INC. DBA Mellady Direct Marketing
History of Company Letter or Memo
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
Proposal # COM-25-26-11
November 20, 2025
City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Bidder Qualification, Experience and Problem Solving
Mellady Direct operates in full compliance with all California labor codes and maintains a comprehensive onsite print and mail production facility. Press checks are always available upon request.
For decades, we have supported the City of Santa Clarita with high-volume, deadline-driven projects including:
• Seasons Magazine (printing, mailing preparation, and delivery) • State of the City newsletter
• Cowboy Poetry event materials
• Postcards, brochures, and specialty projects for a variety of City departments We are deeply invested in each project’s success, and our team is known for:
Reliable, On-Time Delivery & Quality You Can Trust
In our nearly 40-year history, Mellady Direct has never had a job rejected, nor have we lost a client due to performance issues. We have never missed a deadline, even during peak seasons or unexpected challenges.
Expert Problem-Solving
With more than 100 years of combined experience on our management team, we anticipate issues before they arise and offer smart, cost-conscious solutions. This includes advising on:
• Paper selection and coating alternatives
• Efficient mailing methods and postal savings
• Production improvements that shorten turnaround times • Best practices for durability, design, and print clarity Our clients often tell us that peace of mind is one of the biggest benefits of working with Mellady Direct, they know their project is in capable, caring hands. (Continued on next page)
3 City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Bidder Qualification, Experience and Problem Solving
Local + Regional Experience
Beyond Santa Clarita, Mellady Direct also supports:
• City of Glendale
• Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs • Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital
• Antelope Valley Hospital
• Scorpion
And numerous nonprofit and community organizations
Operational Capacity & Equipment Overview
To ensure consistent quality, speed, and in-house control, Mellady Direct runs one daily production shift, with an expanded second shift during high-demand seasons.
Graphic Design & Prepress
Create eye-catching, print-ready designs that engage your audience and ensure flawless production.
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Advanced AI Image Generation
• Fusion Pro Variable Data Print Software
• Fiery Graphic Arts Package, Premium Edition
Data Processing
Maximize deliverability and reduce postage costs with precise, USPS-compliant data services. • BCC Presort Software (Full-Service Bulk Mailer)
• Standardize addresses and apply move updates NCOA (National Change of Address) • USPS First Class, Standard Mail, Nonprofit Mail, and Parcel Permits • Mail Anywhere Designation and Ghost Permit Ability
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4 City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Bidder Qualification, Experience and Problem Solving
Operational Capacity & Equipment Overview
Digital, Offset, Web & Envelope Printing
High-speed, in-house printing with beautiful color quality for projects of all sizes — from short runs to premium offset and web jobs. Full-color envelope printing with variable addressing and stamping in one pass.
• (3) High-speed RICOH 9210 digital color printers (up to 13”x27.5”) • Presstek 52DI 4-color offset press (up to 14”x20”)
• Kirk Rudy Firejet full-color inkjet envelope printer (12.75” full-bleed print) • Printware IJetColor/Memjet inkjet envelope printer (12” full-bleed print) Inkjet, Tabbing, Stamping & Gluing
Fast, high-quality addressing and personalization directly onto mail pieces for maximum efficiency. USPS-compliant tabbing and stamping to ensure your mailings arrive on time and intact.
• (2) Hawk MK6 UV inkjet printers
• Kirk Rudy Winkjet printer
• Kirk Rudy Netjet printer
• (3) KR 535 Tabmasters (tabbing & stamping)
• (6) Stream Feeder friction feeders (high-speed production) Mail Inserting & Specialty Mailing
Automated inserting for speed and accuracy on complex jobs — plus polywrapping, card affixing, and gluing inserts all in-house.
• Mailstar 500 inserter (4 station)
• EI 10,000 inserter (6 station)
• A-645 jumbo inserter (6 station, 9×12 size)
• Microglue HM10 dual-head glue system (glueing cards or inserts) • Straight Shooter SA-5 card tip-on feeder (applying cards) • Minipack-Torre Continua 60 polywrap system (clear wrapping for catalogs and magazines) (Continued on next page)
5 City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Bidder Qualification, Experience and Problem Solving
Operational Capacity & Equipment Overview
Booklet-Making
Full-service booklet production for professional, polished results — from short runs to large quantities.
• Saddle-Stitch (Stapled Booklets): Horizon 20-bin booklet maker (80-page capacity) • Saddle-Stitch (Stapled Booklets): Horizon StitchLiner 5500 saddle stitcher with three-knife trimmer
• Perfect Biding (Paperback Books): C.P. Bourg BB3002 perfect binder with CMT 330 three- knife trimmer
• Coil, Wire-O, and Spiral Binding
Folding, Scoring, Perforating & Cutting
Clean, precise finishing for professional presentation. • (2) Polar N78 Plus cutters
• Challenge Titan 230 cutter
• Duplo DC 646 slitter/cutter/creaser
• Challenge Docutrim trimmer
• Standard Horizon AF-566F automatic buckle folder
• Stahl T 50 pile feed folder (Perforating & Scoring)
• MBO B20 pile feed folder (Perforating & Scoring)
• Morgana Digifold 5000P (Creasing & Folding)
• Baum 714 folder
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6 City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Bidder Qualification, Experience and Problem Solving
Operational Capacity & Equipment Overview
Finishing & Packaging
Specialized finishing and packaging capabilities to make your project stand out. • Digicoater UV Coater (High-Gloss, Matte, Satin, and Soft-Touch Coatings) • Tec21 UV Coater with feeder (High-Gloss, Matte, Satin, and Soft-Touch Coatings) • Challenge Paper Drill
• Vevor Corner Rounder
• Heidelberg cylinder press die cutter (up to 18”x23”)
• Heat shrink tunnel (shrink-wrapping)
• L-bar sealers
• Banding machine
• Heat laminator
• Automatic pallet wrapper
This extensive equipment lineup enables us to manage nearly every production and mailing process under one roof, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings for our clients. (Continued on next page)
7 Bidder Organization and Staffing
As president and CEO, respectively, Jill Mellady and Jim Mellady oversee Mellady Direct Marketing’s operations and work directly with clients, managing projects and delegating to the company’s account executives. Jill Mellady will be the primary contact for all jobs on this project. Account Executive Nickie DeTolve works one-on-one with printing and mailing clients, oversees Mellady Direct’s printing operations, and partners directly with the mailing staff to ensure quality control and the timely completion of all jobs. Press Manager, Angel Aguyayo, oversees and manages all pre-press file preparation, coordinating with digital and print operations for file proofing. As Director of Business Development, Stephanie Wallace works hands-on with new and existing clients to ensure streamlined, efficient communications and processes. Brendan Mellady runs operations and logistics to ensure workflow is scheduled for on-time delivery and shipping.
Cell phone number for after-hours contact is 661-313-2691. We are available 24/7 and will respond immediately.
Sustainability
For years, Mellady Direct Marketing has been committed to sustainable business practices that seek to make a limited environmental impact. We incorporate a number of environmentally-conscious practices into the work we do, including, but not limited to:
• Energy-efficient printing presses and machinery
• Energy-efficient computers and lighting
• Post-consumer, recycled-content paper and packaging
• Strategic pre-press printing layout to minimize paper waste • Recycling of all paper waste, packaging, cardboard, toner, and ink containers (Continued on next page)
City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
8 Our Work with Local Non-Profit Organizations
As a long-standing Santa Clarita family business, giving back to our community is at the heart of who we are. Mellady Direct proudly sponsors and supports:
• Boys & Girls Club of SCV
• Bridge to Home
• Circle of Hope
• College of the Canyons Foundation
• Family Promise
• JCI
• Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation • Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation
• SCV Education Foundation
• SCV Senior Center
• SCV Walk to End Alzheimer’s
• Valley Industry Association
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City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
9 Testimonials
“We can always count on Mellady Direct Marketing for our critical printing and mailing projects. Their proven reliability, competitive pricing and strategic insights make them a valued partner.”
Eric Harnish
VP, Public Information, Santa Clarita Community College District “Over the past 30 years, Mellady Direct has worked with a number of high-profile clients nationally and locally and continues to provide the highest quality work, state of the art equipment and most important, a quick turnaround. Guaranteed results, Mellady Direct! “ Maureen Daniels
Corporate Marketing, The Signal
“Definitely one of the best mail and print companies I have ever worked with (and I've been in marketing for 30 years). Their client support goes far beyond simply filling an order; they provide valuable advice, are well-versed in the latest technology, and catch errors we've missed. They take the time to understand your business and become an integral part of your team. So glad I found them!”
Helen Solomon
Marketing Consultant, Marketing Mavins
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City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
10 Final Note
Mellady Direct is more than a print and mail vendor; we’re a collaborative partner invested in the success of the City of Santa Clarita. With nearly four decades of experience, deep roots in the community, and a dedicated in-house team, we are ready to continue supporting the City with dependable service, exceptional quality, and the professionalism you deserve.
City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
Jill Mellady
President
Mellady Direct Marketing
11 U.S. Small Business Administration
Small Business Certification
Allows for a public (state) agency to award the proposal if within 5% of the closest bid.
City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
12 1.1.2 References: Please refer to References Form provided.
See print and digital samples delivered to Jaclyn Abston on 11-20-25.
We have produced other complex public-facing reports and booklets, including the CPA Impact Report, the College of the Canyons enrollment booklet, and the SCV Water Annual Water Report—each requiring careful handling of detailed content, data, and graphics. These projects demonstrate our experience with large-run, information-rich publications for public agencies and community institutions.
Local References:
College of the Canyons
26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita CA 91355
Eric Harnish
(661) 362-3429
Newhall School District
25375 Orchard Village Rd., Valencia, CA 91355
Rosana Valadez
(661) 291-4163
SCV Water
26501 Summit Circle, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Laura Gallegos
(661) 513-1289
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation
23845 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355
Marlee Lauffer
(661) 200-1201
Clean Power Alliance
801 S. Grand Ave, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Cara Rene
(213) 376-4850 Ext. 134
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City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
13 1.1.3 Schedule (Summary)
Because future printing dates are TBD, the City and QWP Direct Mail Services, Inc. DBA Mellady Direct Marketing will confirm the mail date for each newsletter in advance. For each issue, our standard schedule is:
45–30 days before mail date:
Brief planning/check-in with City staff to confirm mail date, quantities, and any changes to format or content.
21 days before mail date (within three weeks):
City provides final artwork and geography data to the Mellady, in accordance with the RFP requirement that art be provided within three weeks of the mail date.
PLEASE NOTE: The current provided city boundary list you provide is for geography only. The data is used to map city boundaries to acquire the postal carrier routes and map the boundaries of the city which are not full carrier routes in some cases. Please note, the list you provide is only a guideline not a postal mailing list.
19–14 days before mail date:
Supplier prepares and delivers a digital proof draft for City review. 14–10 days before mail date:
City reviews and returns approved proof; any minor revisions are incorporated and re- proofed as needed.
9–3 days before mail date:
Supplier prints, finishes, and performs quality checks. 2–0 days before mail date:
Supplier addresses, presorts, and enters the newsletters into the mail stream to meet the agreed mail date.
This repeatable timeline will be applied to each newsletter, with specific dates confirmed in advance for every issue.
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City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
14 Appendix A: Selected Awards and Recognition
2025: Featured Article (Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal) 2024: Appointed to the Board of Directors (Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation) 2023: Elected to Board of Directors (Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation) 2022:Cheri Fleming Shining Stay Legacy Award
2021: Santa Clarita Female Rising Star by Elite Magazine 2018: SCV Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award
2017: Best PR & Marketing Company (Elite Magazine)
2016: Silver Spur Award (College of the Canyons Foundation) 2015: Business of the Year (Valley Industry Association) 2015: Most Valued Professional (Van Nuys Postal Customer Council) 2015: Bronze Award, Integrated Campaigns (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2015: Award of Excellence (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2014: Small Business of the Year (SCV Leadership Awards) 2012: Los Angeles Area’s Top 10 PR & Marketing firms (San Fernando Valley Business Journal) 2010: Award of Excellence (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2010: Award of Distinction (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2009: Judges Award (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2008: Award of Excellence: (American Advertising Federation, L.A. chapter) 2004: Rising Star Award (Valley Industry Association)
Mellady Direct Marketing is a certified small business with the U.S. Small Business Administration and certified Women Owned Business through the California Public Supplier Clearing House
City of Santa Clarita
State of the City Newsletter – Printing and Mailing
November 20, 2025
15 Thursday, March 05, 2026 Page 1 of 1
(661) 255-4285Phone: Terms: DUEONRECEI
Joe Redmond
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd, Suite 295
Santa Clarita, CA 91355-2196
Attn: Account Rep:
Email:
Job Name:
Jill Mellady
[email protected]
State of the City Newsletter - Printing and Mailing RFP - Supplemental Request: Postage Optimization
CUSTOMER INFO JOB INFO Estimate #: 40820
Mellady Direct Marketing - 29035 The Old Rd - Valencia, CA 91355 Phone: (661) 298-9190
Estimated Quantity: 79,902
Estimate
Estimate#: 40820
Est Date: 03/05/2026
Cust Code: City
Data Processing Sub Total: $1,500.00
*California sales tax may be applied if you take delivery of printed pieces.
Pieces that are mailed are nontaxable per Regulation 1541.5 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code "Printed Sales Messages". **The estimated postage amount is payable in advance and must be received no later than 10:00am on the scheduled mail date. A 4% surcharge will be added to any postage paid using a credit card.
Comments
City of Santa Clarita Postage Optimization
To help the City of Santa Clarita keep postage costs as low as possible while still reaching every resident within city limits, we use a structured mailing strategy that combines saturation eligibility analysis with targeted addressed delivery. This approach is based on our experience managing citywide mailings and our familiarity with how local postal routes align with Santa Clarita’s boundaries and growth patterns.
When the City provides a resident address file, we enhance it by appending USPS carrier route data. This allows us to identify which records fall within routes that qualify for saturation pricing. Routes fully contained within city limits are mailed using EDDM saturation methods to obtain the lowest available postage rates.
Carrier routes that extend beyond city boundaries are evaluated individually. For routes that include both City of Santa Clarita and unincorporated Los Angeles County addresses, we isolate only the addresses within city limits and prepare those pieces as addressed mail. This ensures complete delivery to intended residents without incurring postage costs for households outside the City’s jurisdiction.
PROCESS COMPONENTS:
• Carrier Route Analysis — USPS carrier route data is appended and reviewed for each mailing file. • Hybrid Distribution Planning — Saturation methods are used where routes qualify; addressed mail is used where partial routes cross city boundaries.
• Boundary Alignment Review — Updated references are maintained that align postal routes with Santa Clarita city limits. • Ongoing Geographic Updates — Data is reviewed for each mailing to account for USPS route changes, new construction, City annexations, and development updates to ensure complete coverage of City residents.
RESULT:
Complete in-boundary residential coverage using the most cost-efficient USPS mailing method available. This methodology reflects our ongoing work with Santa Clarita mailings and our familiarity with how local delivery routes correspond with city jurisdictional boundaries.
If a mailhouse does not use these strategies and instead mails to the address list as provided, the total standard mail postage cost for 79,775 records, including SCF discounts, would be $55,443.83. ($.695 per piece) Using our method, the total postage cost for 79,775 records is $18,268.85 for saturated + $515.91 for addressed mail = $18,784.76 ($.235 per piece)
A postage savings of $36,659.07!
Jill Mellady, President
661-295-3900 office
661-313-2691 direct
$1,500.00
$0.00
$1,500.00
Services Sub Total:
Tax:
Total Services:
Addendum No. 1
November 4, 2025
PROPOSAL # COM-25-26-11
Addendum No. 1
PROPOSAL # COM-25-26-11
State of the City Newsletter - Printing and Mailing
City of Santa Clarita, California
This addendum must be acknowledged via BidNet and should be included with the proposal response.
The purpose of this addendum is to address the following for this Request for Proposals (RFP):
I. UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION
Please note that any references to document or invoice delivery to Billie Abreu should instead list Joe Redmond.
END OF ADDENDUM
This addendum must be acknowledged via BidNet and should be included with the response.
____________________________________ ____________ Contractor’s Representative Date
____________________________________
Company Name