STATE AUDITOR BLASTS RFP FOR ALBUQUERQUE DOWNS
Hector Balderas, the NM State Auditor, released the “risk review” of the 2012 audit of Expo New Mexico, wherein he castigates the management for their continued insolvency, procurement and personnel violations, then turns his attention to the train-wreck RFP (Request for Proposal) for the lease contract obtained by the Albuquerque Downs racino.
A few of the deficiencies found in the risk review of the RFP are the following:
• The thirty-day window for proposals, while following the minimum time for proposals, didn’t follow state regulations that allowed for a longer period of time for “complex proposals.”
• Expo did not use conflict of interest forms that would “ensure independence of the committee members and ‘mitigate and deter any questionable actions.”
• Expo violated various state regulations relating to the committee (the ones who the governor chose to award the winner) selection process. The report stated that the violation of these regulations “may result in litigation, inappropriate selection of contractors and potential liabilities relating to old and new contract agreements.”
While Stop Predatory Gambling has previously pointed out some of these problems and more, it is satisfying to have a major government agency make the headlines with these accusations.
An even better result would be for the FBI to finish its investigation of the RFP and reveal major laws that were broken in the process, and require that the whole RFP process be thrown out, and the contract with the Albuquerque Downs voided. We think that the new casino would make an excellent exhibit hall until a new, responsible RFP process could begin.
The audit document can be viewed by clicking here.
