Crisis management contracts (Rutgers University)

Dear Mr. Petti:
Thank you for submitting your request for government records of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), NJSA 47:1 et seq. Your request was received through the online, public portal Rutgers University Open Public Records Center of this office on 5/2/2024 and given the reference number R008887-050224.

Your request will be forwarded to the Office of the Custodian of Records for review and processing, including determining the volume of responsive documents and any potential costs associated with satisfying your request. Please note, the N.J. Open Public Records Act does not require the University to create new documents, to conduct research, or to answer questions for information.

Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any active contracts (as well as all associated amendments, exhibits, and materials), memorandums of understanding, and other equivalent agreements for crisis management, public relations, or protest management from any of the below companies:
• Sitrick and Company
• BerlinRosen
• Castle Group
• Red Banyan
• Xenophon Strategies
• SKDK
• Precision
• FGS Global
• Narrative Strategies
• Penta Group
• Edelman
• Kessler RP
• Berstein Crisis Management
• PRGC
• Max Strategies Group
• Rasky Partners

Responsive materials should include but not be limited to:

• the initial Invitation to Bid, Request for Proposal, or equivalent call for contractors
• the responsive materials provided by the winning bidder
• other bidder responses
• the current contract
• all exhibits
• all amendments
• all performance work statements
• all deliverables inventories
• all invoices related to the deliverance of software, services, or goods

Please also include any memoranda, white papers, or similar recommendations delivered by these companies for dealing with protests since October 7, 2023.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Matthew Petti

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The Office of the Custodian of Records uses the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center to communicate with you, respond to and track all open public records requests.  If you have submitted your request electronically through Rutgers Open Public Records Center portal, you have already been required to create an account.

Notice to First Time Portal Users:
If you are a first time user and did not submit your request through the public portal, you are receiving this request because the Rutgers Office of the Custodian has created an account for you at the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center .
To access your account and view your request:

1.Go to: 2. Select/open  "My Records Center" Rutgers University Open Public Records Center.
3. Enter your email and password as provided in your previously received Welcome Letter.

You can monitor your request through the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center at "My Request Center."
Thank you and if you have questions, you  may contact the OPRA Administrator at (973) 972-1981.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University Custodian of Records
Office of Enterprise Risk Management, Ethics and Compliance
65 Bergen Street, Ste. 1346
Newark, New Jersey 07101-1709
Phone: (973) 972-1981
Fax: (973) 972-2396

Attachments:
Advertising_Strategy_Communications_Messaging_Public_Relations_-_ACE_Program.pdf (https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.PYICgxP3kfgZjR-2B4e9nPlOQ-2Bei55-2BIGqwpXIOk6BH6dm2kHnPUEryqozXjw8DgvJ9NWaxWuNgoDNHJc9Y6c9BOZBOq4KpsAHzM9p8JN-2BpxOeFCLdN-2FXEeT77Ss11HecOuVlBFMQhkMBHKT0KtChH-2Bh38yPWRdkvSeIH9uN8k1Xxbb0zI8cM3SQ2VDrj-2BiPpHtjXuyfeo7ykUKQAny7mBUQ-3D-3DY4aT_h8pQ1hfnmFyXocd8WBsJba4b2AlIszXgcSE7dsdljZ5J9e5UQ7vrh-2Boxdg8nmL3g4xMVRcNj9tkwX4pWafIiMBNBb8jExhJMwqcffngRtoY5mSNvYIomS2CHZ8LrE-2FGu-2FFPo5dOf6e9xSPwECUNZ9NUs-2B-2FgzkRr4Dmm1ITfVm3C4tmZpIDZk7dwhWL2h7GZxVE1NEi-2FGk-2F5DvDZ9mPfPdpLoX3Bq5msRZQyUYT-2BCKSx0BEHlammgvWI4T10HCFvkbyGyu4dDA-2FIg4kklEylkpMZiUu9AsauYrDKAd-2BhG7VXEUrFPEGF2WJGmatGspS-2BA53dlksUNNeb4dHhzGvmITxJvu26vGPEb0dTn-2BgETFnusprNvp0juQ-2BUTt-2FMspIfz)

--- Please respond above this line ---

Reference: Rutgers Open Public Records Request, # R008887-050224
Dear Mr. Petti,
Please accept this letter as the University Custodian of Records response to your request for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). On May 02, 2024, this office received your request for the following:
“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Any active contracts (as well as all associated amendments, exhibits, and materials), memorandums of understanding, and other equivalent agreements for crisis management, public relations, or protest management from any of the below companies:
• Sitrick and Company
• BerlinRosen
• Castle Group
• Red Banyan
• Xenophon Strategies
• SKDK
• Precision
• FGS Global
• Narrative Strategies
• Penta Group
• Edelman
• Kessler RP
• Berstein Crisis Management
• PRGC
• Max Strategies Group
• Rasky Partners

Responsive materials should include but not be limited to:

• the initial Invitation to Bid, Request for Proposal, or equivalent call for contractors
• the responsive materials provided by the winning bidder
• other bidder responses
• the current contract
• all exhibits
• all amendments
• all performance work statements
• all deliverables inventories
• all invoices related to the deliverance of software, services, or goods

Please also include any memoranda, white papers, or similar recommendations delivered by these companies for dealing with protests since October 7, 2023.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Matthew Petti

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The University has reviewed your request. The responsive document(s) is now available to you through the Rutgers University Open Records Center. Please log in to the Records Center and "My Records Center" to retrieve the appropriate responsive document(s). The document(s) is also attached to this email for your convenience.
The University does not have any active contracts with any of the requested companies. However, Berlin Rosen, LLC., is a pre-qualified supplier for the University. They do not have any active contracts at this time.
If your request has been denied, you may take your appeal to the New Jersey Government Records Council (NJGRC), which has mediation and dispute resolution procedures, or you may file a lawsuit with the New Jersey Superior Court, as provided by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1, et seq. Your rights of appeal is provided with this letter at Public Facing Pages of the Rutgers University Open Public Records Request Center . You may also review the brochure at the Rutgers Custodian of Records page or visit the NJGRC page.
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, you may contact my office at 973.972.1887.

Sincerely,
Casey Woods
Director of Ethics and Public Records
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
848.239.0042