Big Mess At New Mexico MVD

The administration of former Gov. Bill Richardson pushed ahead with a computer upgrade at the state's Motor Vehicle Department despite knowing the prime contractor allegedly lacked a proven track record in the field.  Records obtained by the Albuquerque Journal show Hewlett-Packard was awarded the 2010 contract to revamp the MVD system even after lawyers for contract rival 3M warned the state that HP didn't have a proven track record in the field.

The administration of now-Gov. Susana Martinez cancelled the deal last year after the state spent $5 million on the project and fired HP.

Now the state is trying to figure out how to improve a system described in 2005 as one of the worst in the country.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.