Major Aussie agencies face missing out on Government work
With just a month to go until the Rudd Government restricts its major public information campaigns to a central list of approved suppliers, some of Australia’s largest agencies have failed to get onto the list, Mumbrella can reveal.
From March 31, anyone who is not on the Communications Multi-User List list will not be eligible to pitch for campaigns worth more than $250,000.
Lindsay Tanner, the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, said: “Any supplier whether large or small, which can demonstrate the necessary experience or capacity to undertake work relating to Australian Governemnt advertising and information campaigns, can apply for inclusion.”
So far 26 ad agencies, 11 research agencies, seven PR agencies and two cultural comms agencies have made it onto the list.
But many major players are missing. Among those who do not appear on the advertising list are BMF, DDB, Clemenger BBDO, Cummins Nitro, Euro RSCG, JWT, McCann Erickson, M&C Saatchi and Saatchi & Saatchi.
The PR list is even more barren. None of Australia’s largest PR agencies have yet been approved. The seven on the list include comms strategy agency Naked and ad agencies 303 and OnePartners.
Agencies that have not yet begun the approval process for joining the list are almost certain to miss out on imminent campaigns, as applications are assessed over a two-and-a-half month period.
The approved ad agency list:
- 303 Group
- Adcorp MarketingCommunications
- Adpartners
- Badjar Ogilvy
- The Beach Communications Sydney
- Campaign Palace
- Curtis Jones & BrownAdvertising
- Dogma
- Eardrum
- The Faith Agency
- The Fuel Agency
- George Patterson Y&R
- John Bevins
- Lawrence Creative Strategy
- Leo Burnett
- Love
- MGB Advertising
- Moon CommunicationsGroup
- Naked Communications
- O’Keefe Murphy Gaff
- Publicis Mojo
- Tibet
- TMP Worldwide
- Venus Advertising
- Ward 6
- Whybin TBWA
The approved PR agency list:
- 303 Group
- Cox Inall Communications
- Kaleidoscope Marketing
- Naked Communications
- OnePartners
- Peninsula Partnerships
- Shac
The approved research agency list:
- Elliot & Shanahan Research
- Ekas Marketing Research Services
- Enhance Management
- GfK Blue Moon Research and Planning
- Horizon Research
- Ideas Group Australia
- Ipsos-Eureka Social Research Institute
- Market Access Consulting and Research
- Naked Communications
- UMR Research
- Woolcott Research
Update: A spokesman for Lindsay Tanner told Mumbrella this afternoon: “I can confirm that there are currently other suppliers going through the process. And as this will be an open multi-use list, so suppliers can apply at any time. Part of the purpose in publishing those suppliers that have already met the criteria for inclusion on the multi-use list now is to encourage other suppliers to apply now rather than wait until the last minute before the CMUL comes into operation (31 March 2009). In doing so, suppliers can avoid possible delays in assessment of eligibility caused by a potentially high volume of applicants.
“Unlike roster or panel arrangements, the CMUL is open to any organisation or business that is able to demonstrate professional experience and expertise, along with the ability and/or capacity to contribute to the success of national level communications activities. Departments select potential suppliers from the CMUL and there will generally be a competitive selection process with assessment based on the ability to deliver the services required and the price.”
“There are some applicants have not met the criteria or some of the criteria. Those applicants are advised about the areas which require action to meet the criteria. However, we do not publish the names of those applicants that were not successful in meeting the criteria as it would be inappropriate to do so. Applicants that do not meet the criteria may reapply.”
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Why should the Rudd Government restrict its major public information campaigns to a central list of approved suppliers?
Surely, the work should be given to the best agency for the job…not a list that means absolutely nothing.
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The Population went through the process of submitting our application to the govt approved tender list only to receive a call yesterday from the Dept of Finance and Deregulation saying digital and social media agencies were excluded: The list was only for Advertising, PR and Research agencies.
They claimed that digital or social media projects will be briefed on a project by project basis.
My concern is that this will result in all digital and social media work falling to one of the approved advertising agencies that have a digital function!
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@Gordon, They have a panel or approved suppliers because otherwise every time there is a piece of work they will have to assess way too many submissions. The panel acts as a filtering service so that they do not have to check out companies credentials every time there is a piece of work. The leg work has already been done in this regard.
The panel will definitely get renewed every so often so this list won’t be closed forever. Also, any work over $80k is subject to the free trade agreement with the US so you could see some US companies working on Aussie Govt campaigns
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I know the money is nice but has anyone worked for the government. Project deadlines are only for the tender document. Once you start they go out the window as everyone fights over the solution. Eventually someone who has not been involved gets to approve the final job and makes a change. You start with a budget and always go over with variations. And the tender process. We’ve won work we never should have and lost work we should have got. For example we pitched on some work that had to be finished in two months. We were asked to sign a contract with penalties. We opted out of the project because it was not possible. They awarded the project elsewhere – it never finished. It nearly killed to company who won the contract.
Much better to work with people who you like and respect and who like and respect you. Where you get to deliver good work for good value.
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@Daniel Oyston US companies? Clearly determined to be different then…
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Bah, stop whinging, as Lindsay said – “Part of the purpose in publishing those suppliers that have already met the criteria for inclusion on the multi-use list now is to encourage other suppliers to apply now rather than wait until the last minute before the CMUL comes into operation”. They’re not excluding anyone, you’re just being slack. Except for you Tony. That’s bad luck/policy, but I guess that’s the price you pay for being a pure-play. I feel your pain.
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Actually Tim, there is no deadline for agencies to join. If you talk to the friendly fellows at department of finance, they will tell you that agencies can still apply to be on the list after the April 1 commencement- but nice beat up.
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Hi Liby,
Thanks for your note. As far as I can see I haven’t mentioned a deadline.
The list doesn’t close on April 1 – that’s when it comes into practice. If you’re not on it by that date, then you won’t be able to pitch for big contracts until you are.
As I mention in the final paragraph before listing the agencies, that’s a process that takes about ten weeks – according to the friendly fellows at the department of finance.
You can apply to go on the list at any time – but don’t leave it til there’s a juicy piece of work to be had. By the time the ten weeks are up you’ll probably miss out. You can call that a deadline if you like.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella