UPDATE 3-Info Group attracts bidders - sources

* Preliminary bids submitted a week ago - sources

* Bids came from both private equity and strategics (Adds comment from Acxiom)

By Megan Davies and Jui Chakravorty

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Info Group (IUSA.O), a business-to-business marketing firm, attracted first round bids from companies including rivals and private equity firms, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Info Group said in December 2008 it retained boutique advisory firm Evercore (EVR.N) to help evaluate its options. That was prompted by its former CEO and chairman, Vinod Gupta, requesting the company explore its strategic alternatives, including a sale of the company.

Preliminary bids were put in last week, said the two sources and other sources familiar with the situation. Interest came from both private equity firms and rival companies of Info Group, the sources said, who declined to be named because the talks are not public.

The sources said that information companies including Dun & Bradstreet (DNB.N) and private equity firm Carlyle [CYL.UL] also put in a bid.

The sources also said that Acxiom Corp (ACXM.O) had also submitted a bid, although the company denied that.

"We have not made a bid," a spokesman for the company told Reuters.