PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Pennsylvania Lottery officials awarded a $183 million advertising contract to a Pittsburgh ad agency that submitted the priciest bid and received the lowest score in a gauge of technical expertise, according to records the Tribune-Review obtained.
Brunner Inc. defeated two competitors for the five-year deal because its executives vowed to give $6.62 million in work to five firms owned by women, one a minority. State agencies call such firms “disadvantaged businesses” and reward contractors for hiring them.
Brunner’s subcontracting deal is at the heart of an appeal that competing ad agency MARC USA filed with the state Department of Revenue. South Side-based MARC became the lottery’s advertising firm in 2002. Its contract expires April 16… (more)
