The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded a potential five-year PR pact covering communications for its programs.

samshaThe $3.8B, Maryland-based federal agency tapped Crosby Marketing Communications as the lead contractor after an RFP process started in March. Abt Associates and Edelman are subcontractors on the team.

The contract capped at $15.5M includes a base year and four option years.

Crosby will lead the pack encompassing outreach to service providers, consumers, policy makers, media, and the public through various outlets and tactics, including PR, marketing, writing and digital.

Meredith Williams joined Crosby in February as EVP and government practice leader from Abt Associates, where she worked the SAMHSA account.