The CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which handles environmental health, has tapped Washington, D.C.-based Xenophon Strategies to handle rapid response communications as needed, following an RFP process.
The ATSDR, part of the National Center for Environmental Health, sought pitches to work with its office of communications as its scientists and investigators probe hazardous sites around the U.S.
The PR contract is capped at $10M over 60 months, including one base year and four options.
Xenophon is led by former Air Transport Assn. PR chief David Fuscus. Its government clients have included the General Services Adminstration and U.S. Coast Guard.
The CDC unit issued the RFP in July, when it was engaged with the Environmental Protection Agency on an Exxon crude oil spill in the Yellowstone River.