NSW Government announces new list of approved creative agencies
The NSW Government has this afternoon issued a new list of agencies which its agencies can use for creative and digital advertising campaigns.
It is the first time since 2008 the state government has drawn up a shortlist of agencies for various departments to choose from, meaning several different agencies have been used for different schemes and projects.
Both lists feature 303 Lowe, Banjo, Whybin\TBWA, JWT, Host, The Hallway and Leo Burnett, George Patterson Y&R, Iris, McCann, Ogilvy, Publicis Communications and Saatchi & Saatchi. The list also features a number of more boutique agencies, including 3rdspace Communications, The Brand Pool and Core.
The list will be set for two years, after which time new agencies may apply to be added, with the scheme as a whole running for four years from July 1.
I can’t imagine having to pitch against that many agencies for work…It’s either going to the race to the bottom in price offerings or the seriously funded agencies are going to be taking a few departmental heads to lunch every month…
It would be very interesting to note which agencies are used the most after two years – wonder if that would be public information?
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This highlights everything that’s wrong with the way our government operates.
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@competition you don’t pitch against all of them, the Government departments choose a list from the list of approved agencies.
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@groucho So how does the government choose from the list?
Don’t tell me it based on the quality of work – most of the agencies on that list are all experienced (they also employ freelance creatives who work for several agencies on the list).
S
o does the Government tender out the work to all on the list then compare costs?
I’m interested in the way this is managed, as I was told by a Senior government head that projects less than $250,000 don’t need to be tendered out but rather they can choose the suppliers based on merit.
I can imagine a lot of lobbying by agencies who would all be trying to win work.
Maybe this could be something mumbrealla could look into?
cheers
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@Competition
Haven’t the government simply investigated who they are happy to do business with and created a PSL. Then there is an element of autonomy for the Gov’s staff to pick who they wish to do business with from the list? (Rather than channeling everything through one or two agencies…?)
Vendor agreements will probably be set up so that billing can be fast and simple etc
Isn’t it a pretty smart idea? I am keen to understand why it isn’t?
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@competition : what @Erm said. The Federal Government has had a similar scheme for a number of years too. Agencies fill out a long questionnaire and the relevant department makes up the list. Saves the government getting inappropriate suppliers, carpetbaggers, and amateurs. Probably not a perfect system but it works as well as any.
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Given this process has been going on for nearly 12 months now and the results were announced today, has the NSW Government checked the current trading status of some of these agencies? What work also supports their inclusion?
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@Adam each agency presents its credentials just like in the commercial world. Why are people looking for some evil conspiracy? If an agency has ceased trading they just cross it off the list. The work that supports their inclusion is the work they supplied, again just like the commercial world. It is just a long list, just like in a commercial world.
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Looks like these are the ones either willing to drop their pants, or whose bosses host little gatherings where they drink beer and practice secret handshakes while wearing strange aprons.
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