Office of State Publishing - Advertising Program

The Office of State Publishing's Advertising Program was first approved in July of 1996 as part of a budget trailer bill. The Advertising Program was part of the performance budgeting that year and has continued to be renewed each year. On September 29, 2005 Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 828, which permanently grants authority to OSP to accept paid advertisements in state publications. The bill also requires any state agency that was not authorized to accept paid advertising in its publications before the operative date of the bill to use OSP for all paid advertising in its publications.

The bill gives the authority to print advertising to the Office of State Publishing (OSP). This means any material that contains advertising must either be printed at OSP or come through OSP. Agencies cannot print ads in publications using other vendors unless the job is vended out through OSP's Print Procurement Department.

This allows state agencies to offset their printing costs through the incorporation of paid advertising in state publications. They may utilize their savings to print additional materials or divert the money to support other core competencies. During our budget deficit it will help supplement printing budgets so that publications can continue to be printed.

The Advertising Program also serves as a vehicle for state agencies that want to advertise their services to the citizens of California in other state publications. For example, the Department of Insurance and the Integrated Waste Management Board have placed ads in the DMV driver handbooks to get their messages to the citizens of California.

Companies that advertise in State Publications will have the opportunity to better target prospects and customers because most state publications are directed to a very specific market. All Californians benefit from this program because it generates funds, potentially millions of dollars, to underwrite the cost of state publications or the need to charge for those publications.

The term "publications" is misleading. A publication can be any public notification such as a brochure, poster, form, or an insert in a mailing. Large quantity printing projects, direct mailings and 4-color publications are desirable. However, this doesn't mean that a 25,000, 2-color run to a very specific group isn't marketable. The best thing to do is contact us and let us review your project with you.

OSP has a contract with a publishing representative who will represent your publication. After we understand your goals, we will forward samples of your publication, circulation and demographic information to the publishing representative for generating sales and revenue projections.

OSP will issue a Memo of Understanding (MOU) that spells out the agreement to place ads in the publication. The MOU will also define what pages are available for advertising, when the publication will print and what categories of advertising are acceptable to the agency.

Your agency will approve all ad copy prior to being printed in your publication. OSP will process and store ad copy and act as a liaison between the advertiser and your agency. OSP will invoice all advertisers, pay all commissions, and deduct the balance from your printing bill.

Agencies must contact OSP for delegation to contract with an outside ad agency. All procurement, contracting, Small Business and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (SB/DVBE) laws must be observed. Agencies must pay the advertising firm directly without OSP involvement. Collection of ad revenues is the responsibility of your agency or the advertising firm they contract with. After the ads are sold and approved by the agency, the completed artwork or files should be submitted to OSP with a printing requisition. OSP will bill your agency the full amount for the printing.

Your agency requests delegation from OSP to solicit the ads. Agencies develop their own mailing lists and media kits to solicit ads. Agencies submit approved artwork to OSP with their printing requisition. OSP will bill the agency the full amount for the printing.

The disadvantages are basically the same as contracting with a commercial advertising firm. The revenues will probably go directly into the General Fund and do not reduce printing expenditures, and it will take staff time for agencies to bid and administer the ad contract.

Contact us to set up an appointment to discuss your printing projects and goals. We will ask you to complete an Advertising Questionaire, which will assist us in finding the advertisers you would like to see in your publication. You may contact any of the following personnel to make your appointment:

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Advertising in State Publications