Anchorage Daily News

Su Vally bid process shut down

Posted by matsublog

Posted: June 25, 2008 - 9:47 am

From Mat-Su editor Joseph Ditzler:

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy put out a press release this morning saying the bid solicitation process for a new Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School is called to a halt. He cited improprieties in the bid process.

The borough Assembly was expected last night to award Collins Construction a $17.85 million contract to rebuild the school, which was leveled one year ago by fire. Students moved across the Parks Highway near Trapper Creek to the Upper Su senior center for the duration.

Borough beat reporter Rindi White says the bid award was pulled from the Assembly agenda last night with little comment.

According to Duffy: "“We are very disappointed that the proposal solicitation had to be cancelled. It is a serious matter when it appears that there are violations of our purchasing procedures. We are using public funds and the integrity of the process must be upheld. We will work in earnest to get the high school built as quickly as possible.”

The borough statement points no fingers, but says no borough or school district people were at fault, nor were any design consultants.

Here's the complete text, and look for more later from Rindi:

"The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has cancelled the construction proposal solicitation for the Susitna Valley High School. The cancellation was made in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Instruction to Proposers titled Rejection of Proposals.

"The Borough cancelled the construction proposal solicitation because information was provided to the Borough that indicates that activities that were in violation of the Request-for-Proposals rules took place during the evaluation timeframe by individual(s) who were NOT associated with the evaluation of proposals. There is no indication that the solicitation was tainted by MSB, MSBSD, or design consultant individuals. The activities that took place potentially undermine the validity of the solicitation and may present an appearance of impropriety.

“We are very disappointed that the proposal solicitation had to be cancelled. It is a serious matter when it appears that there are violations of our purchasing procedures. We are using public funds and the integrity of the process must be upheld. We will work in earnest to get the high school built as quickly as possible” said Borough Manager John Duffy

The Borough will take immediate steps to reissue the construction solicitation and will seek to award the project to allow for construction work to begin this year with project completion in late 2009."

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