They serve no purpose except to cheat you (the taxpayer) out of billions of dollars. They do this through "Cozy" arrangements with Purchasing Agencies that eliminate, or severely restrict competition to favor only one material manufacturer.
In other words, there is absolutely no incentive to compete for your hard earned taxpayer dollars.
There are only a handful of people in North America who fight hard against "The Machine" for you.
Often wondering why major roofing material manufacturers do not stand up to blatant abuse of the law, I'd now like to use Carlisle-Syntec as an example of how it CAN BE DONE! I finally see someone with the courage and spine to fight. And, WIN!
In previous posts here, I've described GAF, Firestone, and Carlisle-Syntec as HONEST roofing material manufacturers. Today I would like to congratulate, and acknowledge, Carlisle-Syntec's stand against taxpayer abuse. I happen to know the people at Carlisle-Syntec to be honorable.
Please see source, and full content here (highlighted areas are by me):
http://cumberlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/cv-school-district-settles-lawsuit-with-carlisle-syntec-systems-employees/article_4e09a08c-9e18-11e1-9085-001a4bcf887a.html
CV school district settles lawsuit with Carlisle SynTec Systems employees:
Cumberland Valley School District recently settled a lawsuit in which it agreed to stop using cooperative purchasing programs for roofing projects.
Nicholas Shears and Michael DuCharme, both employees of Carlisle SynTec Systems, filed the lawsuit in June 2009, which contends the district’s use of a purchasing cooperative skirts state competitive bidding laws, resulting in higher costs for taxpayers.
While the district admits no wrongdoing, it has agreed to comply with state competitive bidding laws and cease the use of purchasing cooperatives, SynTec spokesman Brandon Peach said in a press release issued Monday.
"We’re glad the school district understands it can save taxpayer money by competitively bidding projects requiring roof work to ensure that the most qualified option is selected," said DuCharme, director of product marketing for the company.
"Unfortunately, the well-intended cooperative purchasing method has resulted in inflated costs due to the inherent complexity of construction work," DuCharme added.
Still bid co-op
While the district has agreed to cease the use of co-op programs for roofing projects, it reserves the right to use competitively bid co-op programs for many of its other business functions, district spokeswoman Tracy Panzer said.
"The district continues to maintain the contract in question was awarded through a competitively-bid cooperative purchasing program administered by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), which is permitted by the Commonwealth Procurement Code," Panzer said.
The Cumberland Valley School Board in February 2009 awarded a $1.5 million contract to Tremco/Weatherproofing Technologies Incorporated for repair work at Monroe and Silver Spring elementary schools and at the Eagle View Middle School.
The lawsuit challenged the board’s authority to choose Tremco through a co-op agreement run by the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies, which consists of educational consortiums from across the country.
In February 2009, SynTec spokesman Tony Matter said the company was not seeking a monetary award from the suit, but was instead seeking a ruling from the courts that the district was incorrect in using such a program.
Matter added SynTec brought the suit not because it was displeased the repair work went to another contractor, but because of its belief that use of the program undermines the spirit of the state law that requires competitive bidding.
Debating the costs
In May 2009, DuCharme said his company could have done the repair work for far less than Tremco, especially because the roof at Eagle View was still under warranty at that time as a Carlisle SynTec product.
The cooperative purchasing program allows school districts the option to use recommendations by a third party. In this case, CSIU receives quotes from a wide array of contractors, both in-state and out-of-state, through the AEPA and selects one as a default for work done in that area of expertise.
In its press release Monday, SynTec mentioned how cooperative purchasing methods have come under fire across the country for subverting the competitive bidding process.
"Independent surveys have demonstrated that roofing work procured through a cooperative can cost two to three times the average market value," Peach said. "While the competitive bidding model requires a design professional to approve any structural alterations, cooperatives often do not, resulting in a dangerous lack of construction oversight."
Posted earlier on Cumberlink:
Cumberland Valley School District recently settled a lawsuit in which it agreed to stop using cooperative purchasing programs for roofing projects.
Nicholas Shears and Michael DuCharme, both employees of Carlisle SynTec Systems, filed the lawsuit in June 2009 which contends the district’s use of a purchasing cooperative skirts state competitive bidding laws, resulting in higher costs for taxpayers.
While the district admits no wrongdoing, it has agreed to comply with state competitive bidding laws and cease the use of purchasing cooperatives, SynTec spokesman Brandon Peach said in a press release issued Monday.
“We’re glad the school district understands it can save taxpayer money by competitively bidding projects requiring roof work to ensure that the most qualified option is selected,” said DuCharme, director of product marketing for the company.
“Unfortunately, the well-intended cooperative purchasing method has resulted in inflated costs due to the inherent complexity of construction work,” DuCharme added.
Check Cumberlink and Tuesday's print edition of The Sentinel for more on this story.
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Joseph Cress
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Friends, we have a very long way to go, but if only a few more manufacturers take a stand as Carlisle-Syntec has, the end of corruption, and taxpayer waste, is in sight.
THANK YOU CARLISLE for thinking outside a "Typical", passive, comfort zone, and WINNING. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and celebrate your victory as our own.
I will encourage contractors to reward them with your P.O. book.
THE "GOOD GUYS" WIN!
Dear friends, please reject negativity in all forms, and remember to always keep looking "UP".
Much Respect,
Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
Manager, Roof Consultant's Alliance
CCC1325620
RobertRSolomon@aol.com
Tampa, Florida - USA
Tampa, Florida - USA
