Office of Communications

The Department of Agriculture Office of Communications is a civilian sub-agency within the USDA that procures communications, marketing, and media services to support the department's public-facing messaging and outreach. The office operates as a service provider to USDA leadership and constituent programs, funding contracted communications work across strategy, creative production, media placement, and related support services.

The Office of Communications has awarded 548 federal contracts totaling $96.3 million in combined potential value since 2005, with $80.9 million obligated to date. Recent activity has declined substantially: the office issued 18 awards in 2021, 12 in 2022, 14 in 2023, 7 in 2024, and 1 award year-to-date in 2026, reflecting a marked slowdown in procurement volume over the last two years. Among 237 distinct prime contractors across the portfolio history, competitive concentration is moderately concentrated. Over the last five years, Crosby Marketing Communications Inc. leads by award count with 6 awards valued at $14.7 million combined potential value, followed by Hager Sharp Inc. and Sage Communications LLC, each with 3 awards. By combined potential value, Sage Communications LLC and Crosby Marketing Communications lead at $16.1 million and $14.7 million respectively, with Creative Marketing Resources Inc. holding a single $10.2 million contract. These top five primes account for 47 percent of recent awards by count and 46 percent of recent combined potential value, concentrating meaningful volume among a small set of repeat vendors.

The Office of Communications awards contracts almost entirely without set-aside restrictions: 91 percent of all awards carry no set-aside designation, reflecting open competitive procurements. Small business set-asides comprise 6 percent of recent awards (34 total), with 8(a) sole-source and competitive 8(a) designations accounting for 1 percent each and woman-owned small business and reserved small business categories together representing less than 1 percent. The contracting mix reflects a straightforward open market for communications services rather than targeted small-business development.

No recent federal contract opportunities or grant opportunities are on record against the Office of Communications. The most recent recorded award closed on 30 September 2026. The sharp contraction in award volume and absence of open opportunities suggest either a temporary pause in procurement activity or a shift in how the office structures its communications contracting — potentially consolidation into fewer, larger vehicles or transition to internal staffing models. This pattern warrants monitoring for signs of renewed solicitation activity before investment in pursuit.