A local clinic filed a protest against a proposed agreement between Bowling Green-based Western Kentucky University and The Medical Center, also in Bowling Green, regarding the construction of a new sports complex on the university's campus, according to the Bowling Green Daily News.
Bowling Green-based Western Kentucky Orthopaedic & Neurosurgical Associates filed a protest Sept. 16 alleging that the $22 million agreement between the two organizations was done behind closed doors without using legally required open competitive processes, according to the article.
A lawyer representing WKONA said in a statement to the Daily News that because of the way negotiations were done, WKONA and other medical facilities in the area had been excluded from competing for the project.
The protest also alleges that the university gave The Medical Center multiple contracts through the deal, including allowing The Medical Center to be the official orthopedic or healthcare provider for the university, allowing the center to open an on-campus health clinic, making the center the preferred insurance provider for the university and making the center's orthopedic organization the exclusive provider for WKU sports programs, according to the article.
The protest cites the use of private communications between university President Gary Ransdell, the board of regents and The Medical Center CEO Connie Smith as evidence of wrongdoing, according to the article. The protest also formally asks the state finance and administration cabinet block the deal from going forward.
A representative for the finance and administration department at WKU said officials recognized that state approval was needed for the project, but that they "[saw] no basis for bidding" on the project, according to the article.