The Parents' Coalition has learned that there is, in fact, another Vendor that would like to bid on the $14.5 million purchase the Board of Education (BOE) will be making today.
If there is another Vendor, then the purchase today isn't a sole source procurement.
If there are other vendors interested in today's BOE purchase, why isn't the BOE putting this purchase out for bids? Why didn't the BOE put out an RFP? Why isn't the BOE comparison shopping with your tax dollars?
Way to monitor the procurement process! Advocating for competitive bids is healthy. Absolutely, the BOE needs to be "pushed" to avoid non-competitive contracts by establishing an appropriate process. Why don't they get it????
ReplyDelete@Anonymous Sept 11, they don't 'get it' because unless the voters turn out and vote, they don't have to. Their patron, MCEA, is fine with this secret purchase using tax dollars. The accepted knowledge is that most people in the county have no idea who the BOE candidates are and really don't care. The voters see the apple ballot, which is put out by MCEA, and that is who they vote for. In most democracies, elected officials 'get it' because they may not get re-elected if they don't. In MontCo that basic democratic principle does not apply.
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