The Missouri Department of Revenue is now accepting bid proposals for six more motor vehicle and driver's license offices throughout the state, including the 1534 S. Glenstone Ave. location.
Bidders have five weeks from Feb. 10 to submit a plan that details how the office would be managed, according to a department news release. Evaluation criteria include customer service, financial stability, employee qualifications and office security/accessibility.
"We ... have the responsibility to make sure the offices are being run to the best of their capabilities and not awarded to someone just because they belong to a particular political party," Gov. Jay Nixon said in the release.
State Financial Inc. owner Ben Newhouse, a Springfield financial adviser and attorney, has been the contract agent for the Glenstone office since former Gov. Matt Blunt appointed him in 2005. Newhouse co-sponsored local campaign functions for Blunt and most recently contributed $1,275 to the former governor's campaign committee in 2007.
The new bidding process has been altered to accommodate prospective bidders, DOR Director Karen King Mitchell said in the release. Bidders must now demonstrate financial viability by obtaining a line of credit equal to 25 percent of an office's annual estimated processing fees. Previously, the line of credit had to be at least 50 percent of an office's annual estimated processing fees, according to the release.
Estimated processing fees at the Glenstone license office for fiscal 2008 totaled $421,774, according to information provided by DOR. Of the six offices up for bid, fees collected by the Springfield office were second only to the O'Fallon office, with an estimated $430,030 for fiscal 2008.
Another change allows prospective bidders to tour many of the license offices up for bid. While current fee agents can't be required to offer a tour of facilities on private property, most agents have agreed to allow the tours, according to the release.
"It is not unusual to make small changes as the bidding process progresses," Mitchell said in the release. "Our hope is that we will receive better bids and, in return, better service for future customers."
The five other offices up for bid are in Blue Springs, Grandview, O'Fallon, Sikeston and Union. They are the latest in Nixon's plan to competitively bid out the state's 183 license offices. Another Springfield office, 3061 S. Fremont Ave., was bid out in January.
Copies of the request for proposals can be viewed at the link below. To review an RFP, select "Guest" on the homepage, click on "Open Bids By Agency," and scroll through the list to find the appropriate one. The bid number for the Glenstone office is B3Z09184.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
