The $3.6B federal government bureau focused on substance abuse and mental illness has launched an agency search to support PR and outreach communications for up to five years.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Maryland-based unit of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, released an RFP for communications support targeting service providers, consumers, policy makers and the media. It expects to tap a single agency for the PR efforts backing its major initiatives, including increased access to mental health services, suicide prevention, and new initiatives focused on prescription drug abuse and heroin, among others.

Edelman has worked with the federal agency for several years.

A one-year contract with four options years is expected to start in mid-August.

Proposals are due April 9. View the RFP documents at https://odwpr.us/1FMwVgM.