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