Official: Companies getting state contracts aren’t registered in Nevada

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | 1:35 p.m.

CARSON CITY – There are up to 20 companies that are winning lucrative contracts from state agencies that aren't registered to do business in Nevada, Secretary of State Ross Miller said today.

The state Board of Examiners, at the request of Miller, gave these companies 30 days to prove they are qualified to do business in the state or lose the contracts.

For instance, the Remi Group of Charlotte, N.C., has been given a $5 million contract to provide equipment maintenance management services for various state agencies. The company will cover state agencies’ equipment with insurance and provide maintenance services.

Paul Roen Company of Calpine, Calif., has received a $3.6 million contract for equipment rental, hauling services and road rehabilitation for a number of state agencies.

If these and other companies aren't registered in the state, Nevada is losing a lot of revenue, Miller told the board.

Miller was chairman of the examiners board meeting since Gov. Jim Gibbons was in Eureka. He participated in the session by telephone.

The secretary of state said his office checked to see if the companies were in good standing in Nevada. The examiners board was told by a representative from the state Purchasing Division that it was up to the individual agencies to check into whether the companies are in good standing. She said the Purchasing Division gives training to the agencies but it’s their responsibility to verify the company is licensed in Nevada before awarding a contract.

Miller said some of these companies might be doing business under another name.

The state Department of Education is awarding a $360,000 contract to HMB Information System Developers of Columbus, Ohio, for maintenance and support on the computer system. It was one of the contracts Miller said didn't show up on the Nevada records.

The state Department of Corrections is awarding a $1 million contract to Good Source to provide food for inmates statewide. Good Source is based in Carlsbad, Calif.