The Lone Star state's reformed $3B Austin-based cancer research institute is on the hunt for a PR firm after briefly working with Hill+Knowlton strategies in 2012.
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, which hands out $300M in a year, has released an RFP for its strategic communications account, worth $375K through fiscal 2015.
The institute, created in 2007 by a $3B voter referendum, hired H+K's Austin office after a review in early 2012 but the WPP firm resigned the account in December of that year, citing "ongoing issues and challenges" confronted the organization. That followed resignations of top officials and a criminal probe of an $11M award to a Dallas biotech company.
The latest RFP covers communications strategy, media relations, conference communications and limited design/production services.
The institute underwent reforms in 2013 and is seeking a lower profile and more effective approach as the "second-biggest pot of available cancer research dollars in the nation," according to the AP.
Three options years starting in Sept. 2015 will be attached to the resulting pact.
Proposals are due Jan. 20.
Colorado is accepting the qualifications of PR firms, ad agencies and marketing services companies that are interested in working for The Centennial State.
Maryland’s State Highway Administration has driven out an RFP for marketing communications, media support and public outreach. 
Washington’s King County is looking for a federal government relations shop to help it stay abreast of policies and legislation that could impact its 2.2M people and cities such as Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond.
Carlsbad is looking for an economic development partner to help position the southern California city as a great place to build a business and grow a career.
Hermosa Beach, a bedroom community 21 miles from downtown Los Angeles, seeks a firm to provide community outreach and engagement services to support its infrastructure redevelopment push.
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