Vendor questions prompt LaSalle County to consult state's attorney on patrol vehicle bid

At the LaSalle County Public Safety Committee meeting, a vendor who represents Princeton Auto Group said the county's posted vehicle bid lacked specific engine and option details, complicating firms’ ability to submit comparable proposals. The sheriff's office said the bid followed state-bid specifications, but committee members agreed to consult the state's attorney and consider whether to pull and reissue the solicitation to ensure transparency.

Andrew Netti of Princeton Auto Group told the committee the bid on the county website showed only a few pages and did not list engine packages, colors or other optional equipment. The sheriff and Chief Deputy David Ortiz said the posted specification was patterned on the state bid, and Amanda (county staff) said engine options are listed on the full spec—but committee members noted multiple engine-option permutations could create bidder confusion.

Committee members and vendors discussed procurement options: either pull the bid and reissue a fully specified solicitation or add clarifying addenda/questions. The sheriff said he would confer with the state's attorney; the chair and staff asked the sheriff and purchasing staff to decide whether to pull and re-post the bid based on legal advice. No formal motion to reissue was made at the meeting; the committee deferred the decision pending the state's attorney’s guidance.

During the same discussion the sheriff explained the department is moving away from Dodge and Ram vehicles toward Ford Interceptor models because of repeated engine failures and the difficulty of reusing existing prisoner-cage equipment across changing models. The sheriff said the planned purchases for the year have been reduced by one vehicle to stay within budget; the total planned purchase is eight vehicles (replacement and expansion). The sheriff said three squads and a jail van will be offered at public auction to recoup funds.

The committee noted a procurement timeline concern: the sheriff said a June 13 cutoff for ordering state-bid vehicles may affect availability and pricing.

No formal procurement action was taken at the meeting; the committee asked the sheriff’s office to consult the state's attorney and to provide clear specifications or an amended bid if advised.

"If an engine has two options on it, how are they gonna know what option to bid on?" one committee member asked. The sheriff noted the specs were patterned on the state bid but agreed to follow up with legal counsel.