BOARD TOLD BID PROCESS UNFAIR

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education voted to rebid a package of two-way radios and pagers after an unsuccessful bidder questioned the process.

Tim Singleton with Star Communications told the board he thought the process was handled incorrectly and asked that it be rebid.

Several board members said they felt the bid process was fair and handled properly, but the board voted, 4-2, to rebid the equipment and avoid any appearance of impropriety.

The district was bidding for 12 portable radios, four pagers and service for the district's communication equipment.

The board had received a recommendation to award the contract to Johnson Communication, owned by Reg and Kathy Swan. Kathy Swan serves on the school board.

Swan left the room before discussion of the contract began and returned after the discussion ended.

Board members questioned why Singleton waited until after the process was complete to voice complaints.

"I did that on purpose," he responded, saying later "I've been there before. I didn't want them to be armed and ready."

At the meeting, board member Lyle Davis said, "So you're a disgruntled bidder who can't meet the specs and have come here to raise hell."

Davis said Singleton was "grandstanding" and attempting to embarrass the school system.

"I'm completely satisfied that everyone was above board and ethical," Davis said.

But board members Bob Fox and John Campbell said because the question was raised, they felt the equipment and service should be rebid, to avoid a question of impropriety.

Fox, Campbell, Pat Ruopp and Steve Wright voted to rebid the contract. Ed Thompson and Davis against it.

The bid specifications call for Motorola equipment or an approved equal.

But Singleton thinks the bid specifications are written so narrowly that only one company can meet the requirements.

He refers to a specification that annual service and maintenance on all radio communication equipment be through a local authorized service facility with parts and personnel to perform warranty work.

Singleton sells Motorola equipment but doesn't have a local service facility to perform warranty repair work.

Motorola has four approved service sites: Cape Girardeau, Arnold, Carbondale, Ill., and Poplar Bluff.

"Haven't they admitted that they have eliminated everyone else?" Singleton asked after his presentation.

Superintendent Neyland Clark said the local service availability is needed in case equipment breaks down.

"We need a quick turn-around," he said. "This was discussed at the pre-bid meeting."

Clark also said the specifications were modeled after specifications used by Southeast Missouri State University for bidding their communication equipment.

Thompson said Singleton's bid clearly didn't meet the specifications.

Thompson also said the time for Singleton to raise questions about the process was at a mandatory pre-bid meeting. Singleton didn't attend, but had a representative at the meeting.

"I'm in the competitive bid process frequently," said Thompson, who is a contractor. "You don't come in after the bid is approved and cast dispersions on the whole process."