LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration is facing growing scrutiny over a $2.5 million emergency no-bid contract, after offering shifting explanations for why the deal bypassed competitive bidding. State Auditor Mike Foley says the administration failed to clearly document any true emergency and questions whether the contract — awarded to a consultant the governor recommended — should have gone through the normal procurement process. Foley’s audit also raised concerns about a required legislative report that was filed late and may have been back-dated.

The dispute escalated when Foley referred two audit findings to the Nebraska Attorney General and State Patrol, alleging potential misconduct related to both the emergency designation and communications with his office. As the controversy played out publicly during legislative hearings, Foley and the state’s Department of Administrative Services agreed to support a policy change requiring emergency no-bid contracts to be filed directly with the Auditor’s Office, an added oversight step aimed at improving transparency and preventing future misuse of the emergency exception.

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