The Mississippi State Highway Department purchased 3,130 equipment items worth $15.9 million during fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Because of a complaint from an equipment vendor involving overly restrictive specifications and other inequitable procurement procedures, PEER reviewed the department’s equipment procurement system with emphasis on vehicles and roadworking machinery. The department did not follow its own equipment replacement plan in preparing the budget request and in making purchases. The department’s specifications and procedures in several instances were overly restrictive, leading to unnecessary contention with unsuccessful bidders and the Division of Purchase Supervision.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.