PR services procurement guide launched
The Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) and the Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) today launched a series of expanded guidelines for the procurement of advertising and public relations services by the public sector.
The guidelines – “Tender and pitch guidelines for the selection of advertising and pr agencies” – are designed to act as a resource for the 360 procurement contacts currently active in the public sector.
The guidelines are seen as a compliment to existing Government Procurement Guidelines (2003) and EU procurement directives and were developed in response to members' appeals for more consistency in the tender processes for advertising and pr contracts.
Hugh Gillanders, chairman of the PRCA said: “While the existing Government guidelines provide a framework for tendering for contracts they fall short in a number of key areas. Buying pr and advertising can be significantly different to buying other services or materials.
"As it currently exists there is an inconsistency across the public sector when it comes to the tendering process for pr and advertising. Some organisations are excellent but others fall way short of the mark. We want to see greater consistency across the board and these guidelines are designed to help in this process”.
Brian Hayes, IAPI president said: "The endorsement of these pitch guidelines by Government central procurement is a major step forward. Clear, simple processes make pitching easier and more manageable for all parties involved. It is our hope that industry as a whole follows the government lead and adopts the guide as an agency selection bible."
