There really isn’t a strong reason for the state to keep the proposals confidential until it closes a deal to sell — or give away — the state ferry Malaspina.
The Department of Transportation promised exactly that when it advertised for offers on the ship, promising in writing that any responses would be held confidential until the state seals the sale.
Talk about running open government aground.
The department, in its letter soliciting interest in the unused, elderly 450-passenger vessel, asked a lot of potential new owners. The state said it wanted “a detailed description of your company’s ownership, (and) a detailed description of your company’s intentions for purchasing Malaspina.” The letter also asked bidders to show they are “technically and financially capable of relocating, refurbishing, operating and maintaining the vessel.”
And in an ironic acknowledgement of the history of one of the first ferries in the fleet almost 60 years ago, the department asked bidders what they intend to do “to preserve the vessel’s historical value and positively promote the Alaska Marine Highway System.”
All good questions, and all information the department should have in selecting the winner. This is not a high-bid-wins contest — the state said it wants the ship to stay in Alaska, preferably gainfully employed at some job in Alaska.
Sadly, Alaskans will get to see none of the answers from the four companies that submitted proposals to the Transportation Department until the deal is done. Not that selecting the winning bidder should be a popularity contest of public opinion, but public information is important — even more so for skeptical residents of coastal communities who have watched the persistent dismantling of the fleet in recent years.
What’s the harm in sharing those plans with the public before a binding decision is made?
The department says it has selected the best of the four proposals and will negotiate a final deal. The plan from MVM LLC to operate the ship as a museum and in support of the tourism industry sounds good, but lacks details for the public. Now is a good time to share the information. Public support for the process should be more important than any skittishness among bidders who want to keep their plans secret.
Announcing all the proposals after the deal is closed is no way to build public trust and confidence, both of which the ferry system needs to restore.
Of course, the final decision on the future of the ship is up to Transportation Department management, same as deciding on when it’s time to get rid of old snowplows. But public interest in snowplows is small compared to a 408-foot-long ferry, and the department would have been smart to put the public’s interest ahead of the privacy interest of bidders.
Wrangell Sentinel
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