State officials denied an initial protest lodged by Bowling Green-based Western Kentucky Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates over Western Kentucky University's alleged illegal and clandestine dealings to negotiate the building of a $22 million sports medicine complex, according to the Bowling Green Daily News.
WKONA originally filed the protest in September alleging that the Bowling Green, Ky.-based university engaged in secret negotiations with The Medical Center, also in Bowling Green, to build the complex.
Under the previously agreed upon arrangement, The Medical Center would have paid for and built a new sports medicine complex on the university's campus. The organization would have also been responsible for all health services for university students, staff and faculty. WKONA officials argued that they, along with other medical facilities in the area, had been excluded from competing for the project due to the way negotiations were conducted.
However, during a legislative committee meeting on Oct. 18, two affidavits surfaced showing that WKONA was first approached by the university to participate in the project, but that WKONA officials rejected the offer.
Following the protests, WKU rescinded its deal with The Medical Center in September and has since allowed other organizations to bid for the contract. WKU officials released a statement regarding the protest earlier this week.
WKONA lodged a second protest against WKU's decision to allow other organizations to bid for the project. The state has yet to make a decision on the issue.
According to WKU officials, the bidding process was placed on hold until the state issues a ruling on the second protest.