Morgantown-based West Virginia Radio Corp. believes its bid for the Tier 3 media rights for the WVU Athletic Dept. may have been more valuable than the bid submitted by IMG College.
A Clarksburg law firm, now representing the company, has asked WVU’s Procurement Office to hold a hearing in connection with the media rights bid.
“Our client certainly believes that improprieties have occurred in the bid process,” attorney Frank Simmerman, Jr. wrote in a certified letter sent Friday. “Also, based on statements by Chairman Payne (WVU BOG Chairman Drew Payne), our clients believe that its bid may have more value to WVU than the bid submitted by IMG College.”
Simmerman also asks that West Virginia Radio be given enough time to prepare for a hearing.
“We would further recommend that the hearing not be held until after 45 days from any award or 45 days from the date of notification of cancellation of the bid process and rebid by WVU should that occur,” Simmerman wrote. “This would give our forensic accountant the opportunity to review all bids and prepare for such a hearing. If our bid should be of more value to WVU than the IMG College bid, we reserve the right to seek to enjoin any cancellation and rebid of the Media Rights Bid.”
WVU has shut down the process it was going through to award a contract to distribute and sell radio and some television broadcasts of Mountaineer sporting events. The Tier 3 rights would also cover other advertising associated with the athletic dept. All indications are the WVU Athletic Dept. was set to award the bid to IMG which was planning a partnership with West Virginia Media Holdings.
West Virginia Radio Corp., owned by Morgantown businessman John Raese, has worked with WVU’s Mountaineer Sports Network for years in the distribution of football and basketball games. Raese has written several letters to the university in recent weeks pointing out problems with the Request for Proposals process.
The university has since asked the state Attorney General’s Office to review that process and other related items.
Simmerman requests WVU’s Procurement Office waive its regular protest rules when it comes to bids because new information about the media rights bids have surfaced after the bids were opened and all documents in connection with the bidding have not been made available to West Virginia Radio Corp.
Simmerman has also asked the company be allowed to amend its protest as new protest grounds come to light.
Friday’s letter was sent by certified mail to Brenda Mowen, WVU Director of Procurement, Contracting & Payment.