Public work

I realize most of you don't do public work, except for possibly MikeH - Anyhow.....

I've been out of the loop for many years.....But, has something changed?

In this particular county, (as well as several individual city/town municipalities), the norm is solicit bids w/o specifications or specific criteria. But rather to award contracts based on guess-by-golly/made-up/ambiguous notions.

INOW's - Never mind your dealing with the publics' $; Never mind a fair bidding process - Just do whatever the heck you damn-well please.

This is quoted right out of a newspaper notice for bids requested; " Selection will be based on an evaluation of factors including recent experience in local knowledge of the region, reputation, background, qualification of staff, familiarity with Eagle County, cost and degree of interest shown."

Now, excuse me, but just what in the heck is that all about?

I'll tell you what that's all about - It's crafted in such a manner that they're going to hire whomever it is that they've already pre-determined who that entity is.

Whatever happened to simply producing project specifications and bidder requirements - and let the process work?

I suppose the amount of work at stake in this little county isn't worth it for a law firm to challenge them.

I was hoping for a bit more discussion :(

We recently bid on three public works projects- 1) An aircraft/airport control tower re-roof 2) A county courthouse and affiliated admn bldg. complex re-roof 3) A Town/city maintenance facility re-roof

Not one of these went out to public bid - None had a definitive specification - None where "emergency" repairs

Don't know who got the maint fac or tower...But a local shyster managed to dupe the local co. to let them have at the courthouse.....

Guess I'm going to have to hire a salesman! It's all smoke'n mirrors anymore :silly: :blink: :(

A bunch of them went to prison around here not too long ago for taking kickbacks from contractors they awarded the work to. :huh: