MGC seeks assistance with resort casino applicationsDate: 7/3/2013 By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is looking for a few people to help them evaluate the final applications for resort casinos.
The MGC recently released three requests for proposals (RFP). One is seeking "the services of a firm or individual with experience to assist the MGC and coordinate the overall process of license application review, selection, negotiation and award of licenses to build and operate casino and slots parlors."
Another would enlist "architects, planners, engineers and other professionals within one firm or multiple firms to form a 'Building, Site Design and Mitigation Advisory Team,'" while the last one is asking for "professionals individually, within one firm or multiple firms to form an 'Economic Development Review Team' to assist the MGC in reviewing proposed casino and slots parlor development."
Elaine Driscoll, MGC director of Communications, told Reminder Publications the commission's search for additional help in judging the merits of the applications is something that was expected all along.
She said the MGC wants to "embrace expertise in various specific areas."
MGC Commissioner Bruce Stebbins wrote on a blog posting dated June 28, that he and Commissioner James McHugh have met with representatives of a number of state agencies on how they evaluate development proposals.
He wrote, "Those meetings gave us great suggestions and insight as to how we could organize our process and utilize professionals and existing public agencies to review the Phase 2 proposals. We are currently soliciting proposals for those professional services and organizing our evaluation teams. Each commissioner will chair an evaluation team that will review a portion of the applications in a timely manner and issue a report of findings on how the applicant succeeded in meeting our criteria. The commission will then use the reports when considering the application as a whole. We have also left ourselves the ability to keep this professional help on board to make sure that the construction projects are completed in the way in which the community expected."
According to the post, the casino developers will have until Dec. 31 to submit a Phase 2 application for a license. Developers wishing to compete for the single slots parlor license will have until Oct. 4 to apply.
Stebbins continued, "This is an exciting process and the competition we have encouraged from the beginning will provide us with strong proposals. Our evaluation process and expertise will allow the commissioners to review the applications thoughtfully and provide a strong recommendation as to what applicant should be awarded a license. We firmly believe this process will allow us to keep to our timetable of awarding a slots parlor license in December 2013 and the Class A casino licenses for Regions 1 and 2 in April 2014."
For more information on the RFPs, go to http://massgaming.com/about/request-for-responsesproposals.
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