Thursday, August 30, 2018

Jackson Seeks Bids for Zoo Contract

The city of Jackson posted a request for proposals for a contract to manage the Jackson Zoo on its website yesterday. Some quick notes:


*Pre-bid conference at 1:30 PM at the Conference Room at Metrocenter, Suite 104

*Bids will be accepted from August 29 to 3:30 PM, November 13, 2018.

*The RFP weakens the audit requirement.  The current lease requires the Jackson Zoological Society to submit quarterly and annual financial statements.  The RFP only requires the submission of an annual audit.

*All Jackson Zoo records and meetings will be subject to the Public Records/Open Meetings Act. 





17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't see anything in the RPF (/s) about moving the animals to real zoos and closing the facility down...

Anonymous said...

I hope this guy submits a bid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS3EBKOMCQg

Anonymous said...

An annual audit and open meetings is a good start by the COJ.

On the other hand, there are no companies sitting around the Jackson area with zoo experience waiting to bid. You are going to get a stack of proposals from the same people that want every construction contract and consulting deal.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I’ve got a Sears/Toys r us I’d like to open. I don’t care if they lose money at first. I can turn things around.

Kingfish said...

Quarterlies should have been included in RFP.

Anonymous said...

The current operators were supposed to be giving quarterly audits. Obviously didn't flag the fact that the zoo was missing bond funds, not paying employee benefits, etc. Why do you think quarterly would be better since they didn't help in the past?

Anonymous said...

I'm certain I read on this site earlier that there are NO companies who contract to 'operate' zoos. If that's a fact, who in hell do they think will respond to an RFP....not counting the guy with the pink fence down near Collins, MS.

Anonymous said...

Like boarding the Titantic after the iceberg collision-

Anonymous said...

Is Beth Poff going to be arrested for misusing state funds? Asking for David Watkins. Shad . . . Shad . . . Shad . . .

Anonymous said...

Poff didn't misuse funds for personal gain like Watkins. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

8:18, yes she did - her salary came from those funds.

Anonymous said...

Not sure where you got that idea, 3:30. There are a handful of national management companies that pop up from a Google search.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many people from SW Hinds county(Bolton/Edwards area) with no zoo experience will through their hat in the ring, get the bid, underperform, and skate out with the money and zero repercussions. Seems to be a trend.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't the Zoological Society contract end on September 30? If the bids are being accepted until November, then who's going to run the zoo after September 30 and until a bid is accepted?

Anonymous said...

You guys don’t get it. This is the Hail Mary, no do overs. When the city doesn’t find a suitor the zoo will begin its death rattle. It’ll be months not years til a closing is scheduled.

Anonymous said...

"Not sure where you got that idea, 3:30. There are a handful of national management companies that pop up from a Google search.

August 31, 2018 at 9:05 AM"

After fifteen minutes on Google, I gave up. Maybe you can help, 9:05.

Just Sweeping Up Here.. said...

Ahem...Please provide a list of National Management Companies that will swoop in and manage a local zoo. I suspect there ARE none. What's the point of the RFP?

A zoo, and any other public entertainment venue should either be self-supporting or be closed down. It is not the obligation of government to prop up failed public venues with tax dollars, grants or donations.



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