Friday, May 12, 2017

Coalition for Procurement Reform Honorable Fight Against School Roofing Scams.

Friends:

I have a number of new developments on the roofing "Fair Competition" front.  Please be encouraged by the good news as it is available to me. 

"Public Roofing Oversight" would like to endorse them. 

"Honorable" is the highest praise I can give.

I know many of them personally, and find them of the highest moral character.  Like me, they neither subscribe to, or perpetuate, the stereotypical roofer image.

If you ask them a question, they will give you a truthful answer. 

First to CPR:

http://procurement-reform.org/

Details


PLEASE visit their site, and join if possible. Fascinating stuff, and very well done.  It should be required reading for every school board member, FM Manager, Consultant, Architect, and Engineer.  

If you are in charge of a buying a publicly funded roof, please be aware that all public projects are subject to oversight by law.  It is foolish to expose the district, and yourself, to unnecessary suit.  I'm working on that post, because your protection, and livelihood, are important to me.  

I'll show you how to buy a school roof, and not end up in jail, or the front page.  

 http://procurement-reform.org/home-box/solutions-to/audits-and-studies/

Click the links below for actual documents, and reports.

"Audits and Studies

Below is a list of audits and studies relating to cooperative procurement.  (Click on the title to download the document.)

Pennsylvania: Ducker-Carlisle Reports –  Open-Bid vs AEPA-Tremco Costs in PA Roofs – Independent study of average open-bid roofing costs in PA vs. costs from AEPA-Tremco projects in PA.

This is a great report, showing actual cost of roofs purchased through the Purchasing Cooperative fraud scheme.  Pay attention to pages 7 and 8.

Maryland: Legislative Audit Agency Report on Open-Bid vs. Cooperative Procurement – Maryland Legislative Audit Agency’s report on Baltimore County’s use of cooperative procurement program for school roofing projects; cites an excess expenditure of $11 MM over the comparable cost of open-bid procurement, on projects in nine schools over three years.

Maryland: EXCERPT FROM – Legislative Audit Agency Report on Open-Bid vs. Cooperative Procurement – Excerpt of the key findings of the Maryland Legislative Audit Agency’s report on Baltimore County’s use of cooperative procurement program for school roofing projects; cites an excess expenditure of $11 MM over the comparable cost of open-bid procurement, on projects in nine schools over three years.

Indiana: State Attorney General’s Official Opinion about Schools and Cooperative Procurement Groups – Concludes “that school corporations are covered by the public work statute and are subject to the procedures for bids and quotes whenever they contract for public work even when the public work is contracted through an educational service center.” The educational service center cited is AEPA, which is one of the major cooperative procurement providers for school districts in more than 20 states. This is the Indiana Attorney General’s opinion that AEPA cannot circumvent the state’s competitive bidding laws by claiming the work is repair or maintenance.

Indiana: State Auditor General’s Report – Detailed analysis of the operation of cooperative purchasing by the State’s Educational Service Centers in conjunction with AEPA; highlights the instances where the Center’s application of AEPA requirements is not in compliance with State public purchasing law and with the State public work law.

Minnesota: State Auditor’s Letter to St. Cloud Schools – Office of the State Auditor review and recommendations regarding the bidding procedure used by the St. Cloud Area School District for roofing repair projects.

New Jersey: Waste And Abuse: Public School Roofing Projects – Details the results of a comprehensive, statewide inquiry into  the repair and replacement of roof systems.  Investigation revealed evidence of widespread cost-gouging; unscrupulous bidding practices; contract manipulation; questionable design, installation and inspection procedures and other abuses.

Texas: Interim Report to the 83rd Legislature by House Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform – Project to examine and make recommendations on purchasing cooperatives created under Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, including the bid process and the role of inter-local contracts. Clarify for consistency the following terms: purchasing cooperatives, inter-local contracts, and inter-local agreements."
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I would enthusiastically encourage you to read:

Pennsylvania: Ducker-Carlisle Reports –  Open-Bid vs AEPA-Tremco Costs in PA Roofs – Independent study of average open-bid roofing costs in PA vs. costs from AEPA-Tremco projects in PA.

Watch this video, and you will see a ton of school roofing investigative reports.  Thank you to CPR.

http://procurement-reform.org/home-box/in-the-news/news-videos-about-cp/video/

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If you are an RCI Member you should definitely read this:

http://rci-online.org/foundation-supports-procurement-reform-education/
This data is coming at me fast, and that's good news.  I'm trying to get it to you at top speed, but the reading assignment is very demanding.


Thank you to CPR, and I have some good news about NRCA coming soon.

Fight hard, but fight fair.  

NO MORE BID RIGGING THROUGH PURCHASING COOPERATIVES..

I want to close by saying this site is blowing up, and surpassing 300 views per day.  You can see the page view counter at the top of this page.

That's pretty exciting for a guy who doesn't buy, nor sell things.

All I do is educate, and tell the truth.  I think that is my mission, and hope you see it that way too.

NOTE: Retired 2003, do not solicit nor accept compensation or personal advancement of any kind.

Reject negativity in all forms, and always remember to keep looking "UP".

Respect.

Robert R. "Ron' Solomon

Public Profile:   LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertrsolomon


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