Beautiful fireworks display here in our Nation's Oldest City, St. Augustine, Florida on Independence Day. Twenty minutes, 7200 pounds, accompanying music.
$50,750.
No competitive bidding.
Why?
Next year, folks, we must have competitive bidding.
Why not?
The same company, Fireworks by Santore has had the contract for fifteen (15) years, with City of St. Augustine Public Affairs Director PAUL WILLIAMSON again recommending the company get the contract this year for that reason.
We need to reform government purchasing as we know it.
We should ask more questions and not consider any contract to be "sole source," whether it is for a no-bid helicopter or a no-bid fireworks display.
We can reinvent government.
Let no government contractor ever again think it has a sweetheart contract or a sinecure, from City Hall to Tallahassee to the Capitol to the Pentagon.
In this instance, the no-bid fireworks contract was signed on May 28, 2014. Two days later, on May 30, 2014, City Public Affairs Director PAUL WILLIAMSON wrote a snowjob memorandum justifying the award, but nowhere did he or anyone else conclude that it was sole source, or that competitive bidding was not required.
Too bad George Plimpton is no longer with us -- he was the New York City Fireworks Commissioner, and would not hesitate to express an opinion on anything. (On July 4, 1976, on our bicentennial, he accompanied Senator Gary W. Hart (D-Colo.) to the Capitol, where a U.S. Capitol Policeman carded Senator Hart but recognized and greeted George Plimpton: "Hello, Mr. Plimpton!"
We will reform City Hall purchasing from stem to stern, including PAUL WILLIAMSON's sweetheart fireworks contract.
It's our money.
Yes we can!
We shall overcome!
On this one they get a pass. Santore actually is the only exhibitor who can meet the required insurance and guarantee that the city wants.
ReplyDeleteVery hard for me to believe. Do you have documents? Why wouldn't City issue RFP every year, even if it has that belief? What was that factor not identified in May 30, 2014 memo from Paul Willliamson to Jim Piggott as the basis for the no-bid May 28, 2014 contract? The City habitually violates competitive bidding requirements. This in turn violations the Restatement of Contracts, 2d, Sec 178 (Contract Violation of Public Policy), making all such contracts void or voidable. What do y'all reckon?
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