Update: California Census Office Announces Public Relations Contractor

California Census Office Announces Public Relations Contractor — Request for Proposal Event # 0000011978

SACRAMENTO – The California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office announced its partner to provide media services to encourage participation of all Californians in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 decennial count. Mercury Public Affairs LLC has been awarded the Census Outreach and Public Relations Request for Proposal (RFP) Event #0000011978 to the award amount of $46.1 million. The contract was finalized July 29, 2019, the Standard Agreement form (STD 213) was signed by the contractor and the CCC Office.

The overall approach of the campaign is to provide community-based partners and organizations, culturally congruent educational and media tools and resources to reach the hardest-to-count Californians. The U.S. Census Bureau will focus on national media and outreach to inform all individuals living in the United States of the upcoming Census.

The state’s contractor will ensure the media campaign not only reaches the hardest-to-count, but also covers all 10 Census regions statewide and focuses specific coverage to demographic and vulnerable populations. Mercury’s team includes public relations experts, communication specialists, and media, digital and misinformation specialists to assist the Census Office.

An official public campaign launch is expected to occur later this year. To view the other awards made previously to ensure a complete and accurate count in California, please go to /regions.

California leaders have invested a total of $187.2 million toward statewide outreach and communication efforts.


Notice of Intent to Award — Request for Proposal Event # 0000011978 (July 8, 2019)

The California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office (CCC Office) thanks all participating bidders for their efforts in submitting proposals in response to RFP 0000011978.  In consideration of the response to the RFP, the CCC Office announced its intent to award a contract to:

Mercury Public Affairs LLC

Pursuant to the RFP, Section 3.7, Notice of Intent to Award / Protest Procedures, there were a five (5) workday period allowed for protest available to bidders who participated in the oral interview.  The protest period commenced on July 9, 2019 and ended at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on July 15, 2019.

Protests were to be mailed or delivered to:

California Complete Count – Census 2020
Attention:  Kush Kishor
400 R Street, Suite 359
Sacramento, CA  95811

Inquiries were to be addressed to Kush Kishor via email at contracts@census.ca.gov.

NOTICE:  The award is not binding until the Standard Agreement form (STD 213), executing the contract, is signed by the CCC Office and the contractor.

Contractor shall not begin, and may not be compensated for, any work performed prior to the date the Standard Agreement is executed.