Information for industry

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) issues all contracts for advertising services on behalf of departments. Contracts are awarded through an open and transparent national competitive process.

Agency of record

The Government of Canada uses the services of a single Agency of Record (AOR) to develop media plans and purchase media space for government advertising. An AOR enables the government to get better value by leveraging the collective buying power of departments. Centralizing these services also enables better integration, oversight, control and reporting.

The current contract is with Cossette Communication Inc. It was awarded following a national competitive solicitation process and is valid until August 31, 2018, with the possibility of two (2) additional one (1) year option periods.

Advertising technology provider

The Government of Canada also uses the services of an Advertising Technology Provider (ATP) to support its digital advertising activities. The services include ad serving, management of a Data Management Platform (DMP) and a Demand Side Platform (DSP), campaign tracking, and reporting on performance and results.

The current contract with Technologies Adgear inc. is valid until August 31, 2018, with the possibility of two (2) additional one (1) year option periods.

Creative agencies

PSPC has established a roster of agencies on standing offers and supply arrangements of varying dollar amounts to provide strategic creative services to departments.

Along with these, PSPC has also established standing offers specifically for Aboriginal companies. The Aboriginal set-aside program is intended to increase Aboriginal business participation in government procurement and support Aboriginal economic development, people and communities.

Standing offers

The following firms were awarded a standing offer of up to $200,000. The Standing Offers end in June 2016 and include an additional one-year option period.

  • Agency 59 Ltd.
  • Brad Inc.
  • Compass Communications Inc.
  • kbs+p canada
  • MacLaren McCann Canada Inc.
  • Manifest Communications Inc.
  • Ogilvy Montréal Inc.
  • Target Marketing & Communications Inc.

Aboriginal set-aside standing offers for advertising services

PSPC awarded Aboriginal set-aside standing offers of up to $350,000, to the following three firms:

  1. Det'on Cho Tait Communications
  2. Earthlore Communications
  3. Spirit Creative Advertising & Promotion Inc.

Suppliers interested in Aboriginal procurement can get more information from buyandsell.gc.ca.

Standing offers for public notices services

The following companies were awarded standing offers at the same time, specifically for services related to public notices, up to $100,000.

  • Acart Communications Inc.
  • Compass Communications Inc.
  • Quiller & Blake Advertising Ltd.

Supply arrangements

Supply arrangements were awarded to 16 agencies for the development of individual campaigns with an estimated value of more than $200,000.

  1. Acart Communications Inc.
  2. Acart Communication in joint venture with Pub Point Com
  3. Agency59 Ltd.
  4. Brown Communications Group Inc. in joint venture with David Stanger & Associates
  5. Compass Communications Inc.
  6. Entreprise de communications Tank Inc.
  7. Juniper Park Communications ULC in joint venture with Headspace Marketing Inc., Transperfect Translations Company and Wills & Co Media Strategies Inc.
  8. kbs+p Canada Inc.
  9. MacLaren McCann Canada Inc.
  10. Manifest Communications Inc.
  11. Marketel / McCann Erickson
  12. M5 Marketing Communications Ltd.
  13. Marshall Fenn Communications Ltd.
  14. Mediaplus Advertising
  15. Ogilvy & Mather Canada
  16. Ogilvy Montréal Inc.
  17. Tank
  18. Target Marketing & Communications Inc.

Request for proposals

For certain campaigns, PSPC also issues Requests for proposals on buyandsell.gc.ca. Typically, these campaigns are complex with multiple themes and components and span more than one year. An example is the Department of National Defence's recruitment campaign which includes national, seasonal and regional components.