ROCKVILLE, MD: Ogilvy Public Relations will provide PR support to the National Cancer Institute on an interim basis through the end of January while the government agency reviews its communications contract.
The National Cancer Institute awarded Ogilvy PR a five-year contract in December 2008. The budget for its first year was nearly $3 million.
An Institute spokesperson said the new solicitation, while not yet completed, should be posted in the coming weeks.
The WPP firm was given a four-month "bridge" contract, according to a notice, between September 25 and January 30, 2015, that mandates it to provide services and help with the transition if a different agency wins the account. The dollar amount of the pact was redacted on the notice.
Ogilvy PR is "uniquely qualified" to continue to work with the National Cancer Institute given its history with the organization, the government agency noted in the documents. The notice also states that "if a new contractor was retained, the learning curve would be too great to become acclimated to the ongoing tasks, and it would be cost prohibitive to train new staff."
A representative from Ogilvy PR was not immediately available for comment.
