WASHINGTON, DC: The federal government is about to get serious in its effort to sort out its muddled marketing processes.
WASHINGTON, DC: The federal government is about to get serious in
its effort to sort out its muddled marketing processes.
Early next year, the Gen-eral Services Administration (GSA) - a
gatekeeper for many government contracts - will hold two meetings, one
for those who have done marketing projects for the government in the
past, and another for those who want to but are not on the ’schedule’
(that’s government lingo for ’list’).
Currently, any federal agency that has a PR project can pick PR firms
off the GSA schedule of pre-qualified contractors, a select group that
only includes firms that have already passed muster in terms of their
capabilities and pricing.
The first session, scheduled for January 20, will feature an open
dialogue between the GSA and vendors who have already qualified for
federal business.
The GSA wants to learn more about various marketing disciplines so they
can become better ’knowledge brokers.’ The event is invitation-only.
The second session, on January 25, is designed to instruct firms -
ranging from advertising and PR shops to Internet and graphic design
agencies - on how to get onto this list of qualified vendors. Admission
to this seminar will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
No times have been set for the meetings, which will be held in
Arlington, VA. Interested firms should call Jeff Manthos at (703)
305-6085.
Additional information on the public meetings is available at
http://pub.fss.gsa.gov/services/market-svcs. The site provides an
up-to-date list of vendors that have already been given the green light
by the government.
