Committee defers decision after lawmakers question out‑of‑state broker chosen despite higher bid

Lawmakers on the Kentucky Contract Review Committee on May 1 deferred action on a procurement award after members questioned why an out‑of‑state broker won the contract despite a substantially higher bid.

Representatives of the Finance and Administration Cabinet — including Barbara Dickens, general counsel, Joe McDaniel, executive director of the Office of the Controller, and Sherry Wissman, director of State Risk and Insurance Services — answered questions but said they were not part of the scoring committee and did not have the score breakdown immediately available.

Representative Bowman (mover) initially proposed disapproval, citing experience of other bidders and a roughly $600,000 difference in price. Senator Meredith suggested deferral to collect procurement scoring and weighting details rather than an immediate disapproval. Representative Bowman withdrew his disapproval motion and the committee approved a motion to defer so staff can provide the scoring and technical evaluation documents and respond to members’ questions.

Committee members asked for transparency about how cost and technical scores were weighted in the procurement (the panel cited a blended technical/cost/oral scoring approach), and specifically requested the open procurement records so the committee could examine how a higher priced bidder prevailed. Agency counsel said the cabinet would supply the procurement documents to the committee.

The committee’s deferral leaves the award unresolved and directs staff to collect and distribute the evaluation materials requested by members before the next meeting.