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Thursday, October 12, 2006

How pricey could plastic be?

So the N.J. Lottery operator with a bid nearly $32 million higher than its competitor got the contract because it is "more convenient." Representatives for the low bidder, Scientific Games, said the state's evaluation committee exaggerated its weaknesses while ignoring the problems (and obviously, the price) of GTech, which bid $106.7 million to Scientific's $75 million. Former state Attorney General John J. Farmer Jr. is going to testify on behalf of Scientific Games about the appearance of impropriety.

One of the things Scientific Games was criticized for was its somewhat larger terminal size. But a company lawyer pointed out that any lost counter space could be offset with different models of the plastic racks for instant tickets.
"If the state had to pay an additional cost for plastic instant-ticket dispensers, do you think it would cost $32 million?" she wanted to know.
She must not have been reading the state news in the last half decade or so. With New Jersey, $32 million for plastic dispensers -- for a connected contractor -- wouldn't surprise me at all.

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