Deadline Near on Review of Bookstore Deal Sarah R. Buchholz CHRONICLE STAFF April 28, 2000 State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci could rule next week on the University's proposal to privatize the University Store and Textbook Annex. On May 2, the Auditor's Office will have had the final version of the contract for 30 working days. However, DeNucci can still request an extension to continue reviewing the contract. Under state law, the auditor may request up to 30 additional working days to study the plan, according to Glenn Briere, a spokesperson for the auditor. If the Auditor's Office chooses to use the full 30 days, it will rule on the proposed contract in mid-June, just over two weeks before Follett is scheduled to assume operation of the store. But Briere said the auditor can request a smaller extension if the office needs only a few extra days. "We really do an exhaustive cost-benefit analysis," said Briere. "Sometimes [the initial] 30 days isn't enough time." DeNucci is evaluating a contract with Follett Higher Education Group of Chicago, a company that operates bookstores on 630 campuses nationwide. In January, campus officials awarded the company a five-year contract to operate the University Store and Textbook Annex. Follett's bid was selected from among three submitted, one of which was from the store's current employees, assisted by a union coalition. The company's bid included an $875,000 investment in renovations and a $125,000 point-of-sale system, as well as an annual $10,000 textbook scholarship program, for a total capital investment of $1 million. Current employees have been given the option of joining Follett or working for the firm as University staff.