Xerox Corp. is Challenging the Anchorage School District’s decision to award a copying service contract to Frontier Business Systems, arguing that a flawed selection Process will result in the district paying a higher price to a less-qualified firm.

The School District, which is facing a $26 million gap in its 2004-05 budget, on Oct. 30 announced its intent to award the contract to Anchorage-based Frontier Business Systems for a total estimate cost of about $1.42 million over 7 1/2 years.

Xerox’s proposal said it could do the job for roughly $1.36 million. A third firm, IKON Office Solutions, submitted a price of about $1.6 million.

This week, Xerox — the district’s current copier contractor — notified school officials of its intent to appeal the decision, arguing principally that the district’s selection method underrated the importance of price.

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