AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Although they say they've found no evidence of impropriety, Texas lottery officials say the can't rule out that there was bid information-sharing between their main vendor, GTECH Corp., and a lottery consultant.
Lottery deputy executive director Gary Grief said Thursday companies wanting to bid on running the Texas lottery will get a 30-day bid deadline extension while state officials examine the matter.
GTECH President Jaymin Patel apologized Thursday for the trouble caused by his company having a contract with consultant Gartner Inc. while Gartner helped lottery officials write their bid specifications. Patel insists there was no information-sharing between the companies about the Texas lottery and no conflict of interest.
The dual contracts by Gartner raised concerns that GTECH might have a competitive advantage in upcoming bidding. The Gartner contracts have been canceled, but for now the "request for proposals" it helped Texas officials write remains.
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