saatchi and saatchi and Quantum

Question:
Why was so much trust placed in Saatchi and Saatchi?
Response:
Saatchi & Saatchi has a global reputation as one of the best advertising and strategic communications firms in the world, and has been used by the United States Government (including the State
Department) for various projects. These facts and history generated MBN's trust and confidence in Saatchi & Saatchi from the beginning and played key roles in Saatchi & Saatchi's selection as a branding and
promotion provider. Clients of Saatchi and Saatchi include Western Union, Cadbury, Procter & Gamble, Hi Magazine, Future Television and the King Hussein Cancer Center to name just a few.
Question:

   Why did these contracts have to be no-bid contracts? Were there no qualified companies across the entire Middle East that could have supplied the broadcasting services Al-Hurra needed?
Response:

  The contract awarded to Quantum Communications for production support services (including office space) was not a ''no-bid contract,'' as Mr. Kleinman explained at the hearing on November 10,
2005. Rather, as he testified, MBN spoke ''to three companies'' about providing these services, ''two of whom refused to put in bids once they found out what our security and other requirements were. And then
subsequent to that, we negotiated and had a sole-source justification under the appropriate rules and regulations'' and awarded the contract to Quantum. (This contract is being re-bid in 2006.) BrandCentral received a contract in March 2005 for various services, including the design and ongoing updates to MBN's Alhurra TV and Alhurra-Iraq websites. Among the numerous reasons for the award of this contract to
BrandCentral (which was done with the approval of MBN's Board of Directors and in accordance with OMB Circular A–110) was that the company provided a unique combination of corporate experience, had the capability to interact sensitively within the target culture on crucial communications issues, maintained key personnel capabilities, possessed technological expertise, was located within the hub of the Middle East advertising world, possessed the necessary security capabilities and could deliver the services requested by MBN at a reasonable price."   (thanks anonymous)