Showing posts with label stealing from schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stealing from schools. Show all posts

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Roof Consultant Institute Honorable Position Statement AGAINST Purchasing Cooperatives.


Friends:

Roof Consultant's Institute (RCI) is the premier roof consulting organization on earth, with members in many countries.



Our mailing address is:
RCI, Inc.
1500 Sunday Drive
Suite 204
RaleighNC 27607

Add us to your address book

I had the distinct honor of working for, and being trained by, the first and only two time President of RCI, the late Mr. Bob Lyons.  His photo is on the right margin, and I display it with pride.


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

This brings me to today's topic:  RCI's Official Position Paper regarding Purchasing Cooperatives.

Reference:

http://rci-online.org/news-and-advocacy/policy-statements/

June 21, 2012 RCI’s Position Statement applies to all publicly bid work, including federal, state (provincial/ territorial), municipal, and local government projects or otherwise taxpayer-funded projects in which RCI, Inc. members may participate.

Projects not under the procurement requirements of government agencies or that do not utilize taxpayer funds should also employ similar fair and impartial procurement practices. It is the position of RCI, Inc. that all public work and taxpayer-funded projects clearly adhere to all applicable procurement regulations, maintain the highest levels of transparency and value, and comply with the following principles.

In addition to the owner, projects should involve three distinct entities: the design professional, the manufacturer (or supplier), and the qualified contractor (contractor).

1.) . The design professional should be selected by the owner based on qualifications, experience and past performance. The design professional should prepare contract documents to be in compliance with all applicable code requirements (including but not limited to fire, wind, drainage, thermal resistance or performance, warranty and environmental requirements).

Contract documents should not be proprietary or exclusive to a manufacturer, a supplier or a qualified contractor. A product or system that may be able to be produced, supplied or installed by other competitors but is not, is considered a proprietary product/system. Procurement regulations have specific procedures that are required if proprietary materials or systems are to be considered. Design professionals are discouraged from utilizing proprietary specifications.

All projects should utilize a minimum of three manufacturers or utilize materials commonly available from three manufacturers. Systems should be selected to meet specific performance criteria or standards. The design professional must adhere to all state (provincial/territorial) licensing requirements and carry the appropriate errors and omissions insurance.

2.)  The manufacturer and its suppliers should provide the materials and systems adhering to the contract documents. A manufacturer should not act as the design professional unless qualified to do so, and should state in writing and publicly its financial interest in the specifications/requirements provided. Contractual obligations or agreements should not exist between owners and manufacturers. Proprietary and/or exclusionary specifications intended to limit competition among manufacturers, suppliers and/or qualified contractors are strongly discouraged.

Manufacturers are encouraged to provide data, RCI, Inc. Position Statement on Procurement – Support Document information, or other assistance to qualified contractors to determine the best use and application of their materials and systems. Manufacturers should not control material specifications.

3.)  The contractor should be contracted directly to the owner. At no time should any contractual or financial obligation or agreement exist between the design professional and manufacturer, or the design professional and the qualified contractor, or the manufacturer and the qualified contractor. At no time should the manufacturer act as either the design professional or qualified contractor. At no time should the design professional act as the manufacturer or contractor.

4.)  Design-build delivery methods are acceptable under the following conditions: (a) The principles noted above, are met. (b) Design build delivery maintains a competitive bidding/tender environment among all parties: designer, contractor, and manufacturer. (c) A design-build contract is used to ensure that a clear line of responsibility for the design and compliance with code is established. It is the position of RCI, Inc. that the use of "buy boards,” group-purchasing agencies, and all similar purchasing models in any type of building construction, remediation, or rehabilitation are not transparent, do not ensure compliance with the minimum requirements of the codes, do not provide a competitive bid situation, and should not be utilized.



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Got That?

ROOFING is NOT a specialty item, and major manufacturers are stocked at local supply houses.  Purchasing Cooperative materials (Tremco, and Garland) are NOT. 





At any rate, I thank RCI for their fair, and common sense approach.  NO MANUFACTURER  may act as the specifier.   NO MANUFACTURER  may act as the consultant.  

FACT: 

NO Purchasing Cooperative can PROVE that competition ever existed.  Purchasing Cooperatives are essentially commissioned salesmen, with the Purchasing Cooperative getting 2%-4% for handling paperwork.  The "Salesman" gets a 25% commission.


The MORE the roof costs, the MORE commission they make.

I have a 15 year history of interaction with them, and have never seen such "Organized Corruption".   They will not defend their position, because it is indefensible.  COWARDS, and rotten to the core.  A strong statement, but one I can prove in a public debate.

You can buy Ticonderoga No. 2 pencils through a Purchasing Cooperative if you like, but Roofing is out of the question.  It's all a SCAM, and everyone knows it.  The excess spending on "Proprietary Specifications" is in the billions of dollars, and NOTHING to show for it.



Schools don't have money because too many people are stealing it before reaching it's intended purpose.   

RESPECT  to RCI on their honorable position.

SHAME on Purchasing Cooperatives who steal from our schools.

For the moment, I'll leave it there.

As always, I am humbled that anyone cares one bit about what I have to say, and I am very thankful for spending time with me here.

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

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

Respect.

Robert R. Solomon
Public Procurement Analyst
Licensed Roofing Consultant
Licensed Roofing Contractor  CCC 1325620

Note:  I am retired, and keep my credentials as reference only.  I do not consult, contract, or work for anyone since 2003.  I do this because I can, and because I'm right.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Search this site for public roofing scams.

Friends:

The purpose of this site is to increase public awareness of "Predatory Sales Models" and "Exclusion" of  fair competition in public works.

Everything I say here is backed by  public record, and subsequent documentation.  If I say something that is factually incorrect, I will retract it.  Constructive criticism is encouraged, and welcomed.

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

Architects, Public Administrators, Contractors, Consultants, Manufacturers, and Distributors, are all affected by "Proprietary Specifications".  A sales trick to eliminate all competition for taxpayer money.

In the upper left search box, please type keywords:  School Roofing Scam, Purchasing Cooperative, Taxpayer abuse, Tremco, Garland, sole source, etc.

Approximately 150 posts all told.  

FACT:  Garland, and Tremco do not make half the products they sell, and are not found in any local roofing supply house. It must be trucked in from Ohio.  You are essentially exporting 70% of your local tax dollar to other economies.  

YOU, and all  taxpayers should be concerned that we are paying upwards of 50% MORE for roofing and duped into thinking you've received a value.  The opposite is true.  

If you are working with a Purchasing Cooperative, your district is taking a beating that is 100% avoidable.  Certainly, I've illustrated the scam that is undeniable. 

I know all the manufacturers, and have installed millions of sq. ft. of any subset of roofing.  Steep slope, single ply (EPDM, TPO, PVC), built up, modified, etc.  I've successfully completed over 100 public schools, and know what I'm talking about.

If I don't know the answer, Roof Consultant's Institute (RCI) will.  RCI is the standard for roofing excellence, and an honorable organization with top level consultants.

Many are Architects, Consultants, Engineers, Contractors, Manufacturers, etc. ,ALL are credentialed, and will have someone near you.

I do not belong to any organization.  A lot of my work is very sensitive, and may cause discomfort through association.  They are not allowed to speak freely, while I can tell the truth without fear of retribution.

Please understand that I have no beef with individuals trying to make an honest living.  It's the "Predatory Sales Model I despise.  I do not want to "Exclude" those mentioned, and welcome them to any public bid list.

Instead of "Favoritism", seek only fair competition for our own tax dollars.  

Roofers will decide all things roofing, and not elite sectors who are without credential, experience, or the exhaustive safety training it takes.  


"My name is Ron, and I'm a roofer.........For some reason, feel like I should be at an AA meeting."


I will help anyone who asks for help.

This is my mission, and will see it through. 




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".

It is humbling that anyone cares one bit about what I have to say, and I am thankful.

Respect.


Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
Public Procurement Analyst
State Certification  CCC 1325620
Tampa, Florida