Judge says state didn’t get N.C. taxpayers best deal on supplies
(RALEIGH)
– The state’s contract for providing staplers, ink cartridges and paper
clips was mishandled and appeared unethical and unfair.
That’s
according to Administrative Law Judge Beeches Gus Gray.The lawsuit
challenged the state’s six-year contract for providing such supplies,
contending North Carolina decided to overpay for office supplies by as
much as $10.8 million.
Lawyers for Colorado-based Corporate Express
said the consulting firm North Carolina hired to guide the state on the
contract had done millions of dollars worth of business for winning
bidder Office Depot in recent years.
Corporate Express said in the
challenge that state contracting officials rejected its bid for the
business, which it said was the lowest, in favor of an $18.2 million
contract with Florida-based Office Depot.
After four days of testimony, the judge said the state did not get taxpayers the best deal it could.
Gray, who did not void the contract, said he expects the state to make changes soon.
No response yet from the state……