In a recent government meeting, the Tele Consulting Group sought approval to amend their contract to utilize an out-of-state training vendor, Tully Inc., for stormwater pollution prevention certification. Margo Davidson, the HR director for Tele Consulting Group, emphasized the necessity of the Qualified SWIP Practitioner (QSP) certification, which is mandated for all inspectors and requires a national certification as a prerequisite for the state certification.

Davidson explained that while there is a California-based vendor available, they have opted for Tully Inc. based in Colorado for the past 15 years due to the perceived superior quality of their curriculum and instructors. The amendment request also included a retroactive effective date to December 2022, which raised concerns among panel members regarding the oversight in the initial contract.

Several panel members questioned why the use of Tully Inc. was not included in the original contract, given its long-standing use. They expressed discomfort with the retroactive request, especially since a California-based option exists. The discussion highlighted a recent enforcement of rules regarding out-of-state vendors, which may have contributed to the oversight.

The meeting revealed that while Tele Consulting Group has trained several new employees under the existing contract, only one trainee is currently pending certification. The panel's deliberations underscored the complexities of contract management and compliance with state regulations, as they weighed the merits of the amendment against the need for adherence to local vendor policies. The outcome of the amendment request remains uncertain as the panel continues to evaluate the implications of the proposed changes.