The California State Lottery has put its four-year, $100 million creative and media contract back up for grabs just weeks after the account was awarded to DDB Worldwide in Los Angeles.
Following the selection of DDB in January, outgoing agency Grey Worldwide, also in LA, complained that its successor had failed to disclose its intention to use OMD for media buying.
Earlier this week, the lottery's director Joan Wilson wrote to the two agencies stating that the account would be reviewed again, pointing out that both failed to follow state regulations on the disclosure of information regarding media partners.
It seems Grey – despite its eagerness to cast the first stone – had also forgotten to reveal the involvement of its sibling media shop, MediaCom.
"Although I considered obtaining all of the omitted disclosures and, depending on background checks, making an award, the statute clearly requires disclosures at the time of bid submission," Wilson declared. "I believe it is in the best interests of the lottery to exercise my discretion [and review again]."
Requests for proposals will be available in around a month. DDB has already announced it will pitch again.
Data sourced from: AdAge.com; additional content by WARC staff
