State puts off telecommunications contract award, cites long evaluation process

State officials have delayed the announcement of a vendor for a $26 million annual contract to provide state government telecommunications. Administration department Commissioner Jim Duncan had hoped to award the contract by Oct. 1, but be now believes the contract award will be announced by Nov.

By mid-October, Duncan hoped to finalize negotiations with the contract award vendor, then legal experts would review the contract, he said.

When state officials declare a contract award winner, documents and other bidders, proprietary during the process, will be made public, he said.

"It really does put us in a place where we're able to talk about the benefits to the state and the public," Duncan said.

Also, after the vendor is announced the state kicks off a 10-day period during which protests can be filed, he said.

The contract announcement will spell out impacts for employees in the state information technology department, Duncan said.

When state officials issued the bid for the telecommunications contract in August 2000, they estimated that 42 state employees would be laid off as a result of the new contract. However, many of them might be hired by the winner of the contract, officials said.