This will replace the present six-strong roster, which is being revamped as part of a regular review process.
NICS procurement manager Stuart Black said it was hoped the roster could be widened to include around 20 agencies and will not be reviewed again for at least three years.
Agencies on the roster are Anderson Spratt, Burnside-Citigate, Carma, Weber Shandwick, Morrow Communications and Navigator Blue.
Previous campaigns have included the launch, by NI executive education minister Martin McGuinness and post-primary education review chairman Gerry Burns, of a report calling for the controversial scrapping of the 11-plus school system. This was handled by Morrow.
