<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div><div><div><div><div><div><span>Only one bidder met qualifications for this 5-year, $60 million contract, huh?</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>I'm guessin' it's an entity with ies to . . . </span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Data Recovery Corp of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Maple Grove, Michigan, as reflected on page 6 of Looney Luna's pre-general election 2010 Financial Disclisure Report at . . .</span></div><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"></a><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"></a><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"></a><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf">http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/PreGeneral/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf</a></a></div><div><br></div><div>or . . .</div><div><br></div><div>Apangea of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as reflected on page 20 of Looney Luna's October 10, 2010 Financial Disclosure Report at . . .</div><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"></a><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf">http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf</a></a><div><br></div><div>or . . .</div><div><br></div><div>Madison Education Group of McLean, Virginia, as reflected on page 21 of Looney Luna's October 10, 2010 Financial Disclosure Report at . . . </div><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"></a><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf"><a href="http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf">http://sos.idaho.gov/elect/Finance/2010/Oct10/candidate/SupInst_Luna.pdf</a></a></div><div><br></div><div>or so on . . .<div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Courtesy of KHQ at:</span><br><span></span><br><span>-----------------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span><h3 class="" style="display: block; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Idaho to negotiate for laptops after too few bids</h3></span></div><div><span>BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Citing insufficient competition, Idaho officials have abandoned their original bidding process meant to equip teachers and students with laptops computers.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Instead, the state will negotiate directly with companies in hopes of keeping this 5-year, $60 million mobile-computing piece of public schools chief Tom Luna's disputed "Students Come First" reforms on track.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Purchasing officials say three private groups submitted bids.</span><br><span></span><br><span>One missed the June 11 deadline and was excluded.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Another was on time, but failed to meet state requirements.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Only one actually met the qualifications.</span><br><span></span><br><span>As a result, the Department of Administration said Tuesday it will negotiate with potential suppliers of computers and accompanying services to get the best deal.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The state says this isn't entirely unexpected and believes devices will be on teachers' desks by September or October, as planned.</span><br><span></span><br><span>-----------------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span>Seeya round town, Moscow.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Tom Hansen</span><br><span>Moscow, Idaho</span><br><span></span><br><span>"If not us, who?</span><br><span>If not now, when?"</span><br><span></span><br><span>- Unknown</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br></div></div><div></div></div><div></div></div><div></div></div><div></div></div><div></div></body></html>