The Organization of PJM States (OPSI) asked the PJM Board of Managers March 12 to extend the current contract of Market Monitor Marketing Analytics to allow enough time to correct “the serious defects” in the board’s solicitation for a replacement.

Monitoring Analytics’ six-year contract expires in June 2014.

Edward S. Finley, OPSI president and Chairman of the North Carolina Utilities Commission said the extension was needed because there isn’t enough time to revise the board’s draft request for proposal (RFP) “given the character, number and gravity of the defects, and the need for them to be cured before requesting and obtaining FERC approval.”

OPSI’s latest letter follows a 17-page critique of the RFP that OPSI sent to the PJM board on March 4 (see previous story).

At his press conference Thursday releasing the 2012 State of the Markets report, Monitoring Analytics President Joseph Bowring said he was optimistic about his firm’s chances in the competition for a new contract. “We are confident that we are very good at market monitoring,” he said.

Asked at the press conference why the board was unwilling to renew the contract without a competition, Bowring said “I have no idea what their motivations are.”