Because of concerns about employee safety, PEER reviewed the history of security contracts at the Mississippi Department of Human Services headquarters. On April 1, 1990, the Department of Human Services moved its administrative staff and computer equipment to the Wilson’s Building, 3450 Highway 80 West, in Jackson.
The department did not conduct a security needs assessment and did not initiate a formal competitive bid process before entering into the contract with Young’s Detective and Security Guard Service.
The department took corrective action after hiring an outside security expert to review security requirements. The PEER Committee recommends legislation to require competitive bids for all personal services contracts with the exception of contracts for any profession regulated by the State of Mississippi (such as architects, attorneys, or physicians).
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.