Single Source Procurement: Advertising for New York State of Health

On June 13, 2013, the NYS Office of the State Comptroller approved Contract No. C028777, which provides for the NYS Department of Health's use of a contract between the NYS Division of the Lottery ("Lottery") and DDB Worldwide Communications Group, Inc. ("DDB") (Contract No. C070001) for full service advertising/marketing communications services for a range of integrated communications services including advertising and promotion, design and development for the NY State of Health (formerly known as the New York Health Benefit Exchange), established under Governor Cuomo's Executive Order No. 42. The term of Contract No. C028777 ends on December 29, 2014.

The NY State Department of Health received an exemption from the contract reporter to enter into an extension of the agreement with DDB through March 31, 2015. This extension is needed because federal rules promulgated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services amended the open enrollment period for 2015 coverage from October 15, 2014 through December 7, 2014 (see, 77 FR 18310, March 27, 2012), to November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015. (see, 79 FR 137744, March 11, 2014).

DDB under its agreement with the NY State Department of Health has developed the creative advertising campaign, promotion and media buy for the 2015 open enrollment. Consistent with the federal rule, a short-term contract extension will allow that campaign to run through the end of the open enrollment period. It would not be efficient or economical to procure services for this additional three month period.

Procurement / Program Name	Advertising for New York State of Health
Contractor Name(s)	DDB Worldwide Communication Group
Contract Period	April 1, 2013 – March 31, 2015
Contract Number(s)	C028777