Thursday, July 05, 2018

WHY LOW BID IS NOT ALWAYS WONDERFUL

by Bob Walsh

I worked for 24 years at Deuel Vocational Institution, a state prison facility just outside of Tracy, CA. Due to its rural setting the place operated on well water, which sucked. It wasn't harmful, I know because I got the weekly water reports. From a health standpoint it was just fine. But it looked nasty, tasted bad an on occasion stank.

Roughly ten years ago the state put in a state-of-the-art water treatment plant for the water supply for the prison. I think it was made by Ralph's Storm Door and Water Treatment Company in South Armpit, Macedonia. Many of the parts for it are single-source and odd-size, not easily substitutable. And apparently Ralph doesn't make them any more. So the water treatment plant is down and the state is paying close to $50k per month for bottled water for the prisoners and staff. It has been down for some time and will be down for at least another year.

But they saved $12,743 by buying low bid.

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