Lawsuit alleges Missouri agency gave IT vendor preferential treatment
A lawsuit filed in Cole County, Missouri, this month alleges that state officials in the Office of Administration unlawfully favored World Wide Technology, a major St. Louis IT firm, by maneuvering technology contracts its way and bypassing competitive bidding laws.
Rodney Rice, the state employee named in the lawsuit, claims he was demoted after voicing concerns about these procurement practices, the Missouri Independent reported.
In the lawsuit, Rice, who has worked in state government for more than 20 years, said he was appointed in 2023 as director of the Enterprise Project Management Office, which oversees IT projects and their vendors. He first expressed concerns to a superior last January, which he said were dismissed. A few months later, in April, Rice said he “accepted” a demotion and pay cut.
Under Missouri law, state purchases over $10,000 must go through a competitive bidding process, with contracts awarded to the “lowest and best bidder.” Bids must also be publicly advertised and solicited through multiple channels to ensure fairness. The commissioner of Administration can then reject bids and rebid if necessary, with the aims of maintaining transparency and efficiency.
The lawsuit highlights that World Wide Technology secured several state contracts, despite not being the lowest bidder in some instances, and that a former employee with the company held a significant position within the Missouri State Data Center, which awarded these contracts. The lawsuit also notes that a current World Wide Technology employee reportedly had exclusive access to state office facilities, a privilege not extended to other vendors.
World Wide Technology told the Independent that it is committed to “fair procurement processes and high ethical standards.”
A statement from the Missouri Office of Administration said the agency “looks forward to the opportunity to respond to these allegations through the legal process.”
