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Holden administration contracted State Parks call center out-of-state

Governor Holden's administration has come under fire recently for outsourcing call centers to India. But as Megan Clarke reports other state-funded jobs are being contracted out-of-state.

If you want to reserve a camp site at one of the states 40 parks, you call the Missouri State Park Reservation Center. But your call is answered in Rapid City, South Dakota.

That's because Missouri awarded the contract for this call center to a South Dakota firm.

State Park official Marian Fleischman says there were 3 bids for the contract.

THERE WAS NO MISSOURI BIDDER THAT COULD PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

Fleischman says Missouri bidders lacked expertise, experience and reliability.

The South Dakota firm employs 20 agents for the Missouri State Parks Reservation Center.

While Governor Bob Holden has come under attack for having a welfare services call center in India, it's not the only out-of-state call center. Megan Clarke reports.

Campers call the Missouri State Parks Reservation Center to reserve a site at one of the states' 40 parks. But there call will be answered by a South Dakotan.

The Missouri State Parks and the Office of Administration looked over Missouri companies when contracting reservation agent jobs.

State Parks' Marian Fleischman:

THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER FROM THE 3 BIDS WE RECEIVED WAS THE SOUTH DAKOTA FIRM BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE AND RELIABILITY.

Fleischman says no Missouri bidder met the qualifications.

The South Dakota firms employs 20 agents for the reservation center.