THE IRISH Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC) has put its public relations contract out for tender. The State-owned bank has advertised through the etenders public procurement website for the supply of “specialised communications advice”.

The decision to advertise for communications specialists potentially brings to a close Anglo Irish Bank’s long-standing relationship with Drury Communications, which has provided PR services to the bank since the early 1990s. Drury is expected to tender for the new contract.

The IBRC established a dedicated inhouse corporate affairs team in early 2011 with responsibility for media relations and corporate communications. Since then Drury has provided specific communications services.

The new contract will be for an initial period of two years, with an option to extend the contract for an additional year.

It is expected to involve between 30 and 50 hours of “specialised senior level advice” a quarter and could be worth up to €50,000 a year.

According to the advertisement, the new contract will cover all business divisions within the bank.

“Due to IBRC’s high profile and the associated media and stakeholder scrutiny, specialised communications expertise may be used to assist the bank achieve its objectives in the interests of the Irish taxpayer,” the advertisement states.

The successful firm will be expected to “fully understand IBRC’s wide range of stakeholders, complex financial and legal issues and IBRC’s strategy and performance” as the bank works to achieve its goal of full resolution by 2020, the tender document states.

The decision by the IBRC to advertise for public relations services comes two weeks after the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) put its public relations contract out for tender.

The NTMA contract is currently held by Gordon MRM.