More than $1.2M in contracts given to ‘hand-picked’ contractors
The latest incident occurred when Cabinet met earlier this month and agreed to waive the tender process for the procurement of goods and services, in order to hand pick contractors and awarded in excess of $1.2M in contracts.
Cabinet Decisions
The information is laid bare in the most recent release of the ‘Cabinet’s Decisions’ on November 23, 2018.
According to the document, Cabinet, at its November 8, 2018, meeting, agreed to waive the tender process for the procurement of replacement traffic signal equipment and materials for three road intersections namely, at Administration Drive, Station Avenue and the Pasea Estate Entrance.
These had been damaged during Hurricane Irma.
The Cabinet Decision noted that bypassing the competitive process was “because the services are urgently needed for the continued safety of pedestrians and motorists.”
As such Cabinet, “decided that a contract be awarded to A & B Electric Limited, for a sum not to exceed $150,000.00.
Cabinet at that meeting also decided to waive the tender process when it came to the purchase of 2,500 tons of asphalt.
Public Roadways
The reason given was, “due to the urgent need to rehabilitate the Territory’s public roadways, which were damaged by the August floods, and Hurricanes Irma and Maria.”
Cabinet at that meeting, decided too that a contract be awarded to BVI Paving Company Limited, for a maximum of $500,000.
At that meeting too, the Cabinet Counsel of Ministers—chaired by Governor Augustus, J. U. Jaspert—agreed to waive the tender process, retroactively, “for the repairs undertaken for the road reinstatement works at Cappoons Bay and Carrot Bay.”
This was said to be due to the urgent need, “following extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria” and as such, it was decided that a payment of $251,737.50, be issued to Tandem Development Ltd.
Dumpsite Fire
In another round of tender waivers, it was noted that the Cabinet Ministers along with Governor Jaspert also discussed the Department of Waste Management’s (DDM) debris clearance medium term plan and the containment of dumpsite fires.
They subsequently decided that funding of $813,081.87 be allocated to DDM to execute its medium-term debris clearance plan and to cover the cost of extinguishing the fires at the Cox Heath and Pockwood Pond waste management sites.
Cabinet then agreed and decided that the tendering process would again be waived and a contract be issued (retroactively) to Tortola Concrete Products for $336,500.00, for services rendered for extinguishing the fire at the Cox Heath site, and for maintenance of the site from January 1, 2018 to May 9, 2018.
Pockwood Pond
According to the now public, Cabinet Decisions, it was decided at that meeting that funding in the amount of $682,548.00 be allocated for the purchase of equipment to allow for the proper delivery to, and disposal of waste at the Pockwood Pond waste management site.
Here again it was also agreed and decided on that “the tender process be waived and approval given,” for the equipment to be procured, “through competitive shopping with the requisite approvals of Cabinet being sought prior to execution of purchase.”
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8 Responses to “More than $1.2M in contracts given to ‘hand-picked’ contractors ”
Moreover, there are a few exceptions where no bid contracts are in the best interest of the territory and the people and is consistent with good governance, public policy. These exceptions include genuine/hard emergencies to protect life, property and to ensure the providing and continuing of critical services. Another exeception is sole source procuring for a specialized good or service (typically only one supplier can meet the procurement need, ie, parts for a specific/specialized piece of equipment). Generally, for small procurements under a certain dollar value, ie, $1-3K, contracting officers are allowed to award procurement(s) on verbal quotes (for audit trail, though bids are verbal, it is a good practice to document them). However, the procurement(s) needs to rotated among suppliers.
Moreover, some of the listed contracts/procurements are to repair/replace systems resulting from the historic flooding and hurricanes (Irma and Maria) of August and September 2017, respectively. Undoubtedly, these procurements are urgent, a priority and needed but after a year are they an emergency? Do they meet the criteria of being urgent and important?
Further, in regards to road repair/reconstruction, just putting down a smooth top (seal coating) on a failed road(s) without proper redesign, construction........etc is not efficient and effective use of scarce taxpayers dollars; it is not effective stewardship of taxpayers dollars. There is only one fix for a failed road———-reconstruction. A well-designed, constructed and maintained road should have a useful lifecycle of 10-15 years. Poor drainage is a major cause of premature road failure and must be integrated into any new road design and construction whether asphalt (flexible) or concrete (fix).