By Riley changes stance on no bid contracts
Montgomery, AL – - Gov. Bob Riley is backing off an October
announcement by his administration that it would no longer approve
contracts that weren't bid.
Riley's legal adviser, Ken Wallis, told a legislative committee
Thursday that a letter Oct. 19 announcing the policy was in error
and a new letter clarifying the governor's position will go out
this week.
Wallis said the governor never intended to ban all unbid
contracts, but he did not communicate that to the administration
official who sent the letter to all state agencies. He said the
governor wanted more scrutiny and transparency, but not a total
ban.
The governor's administration sent the October letter after
being criticized by some Democratic legislators for an unbid
computer contract with Paragon Source, a company that has no listed
phone number or Web site.