Paradigm Removal raises procurement concerns after committee advances competing contract

During the public-participation period following committee business on Nov. 5, Eileen McDonald, representing Paradigm Removal, asked how proposers can address the commission before committee action and raised procurement concerns related to a Heritage Services bid that had been advanced earlier in the meeting.

McDonald said bidders saw a bid tabulation on the county portal that included only one page and did not contain supplementary pages showing additional line items or charges that, she said, appeared in the packet materials considered by commissioners. "There were additional items, line items that were submitted that were not actually on their proposal form, and they only have 2 line items here," McDonald said, and she asked how such charges had been considered. She also noted Paradigm's long service to the county and said Paradigm's staff have "never let this county down."

Chair Sabatini replied the body would not respond immediately during public participation but offered to speak with McDonald after the meeting. Commissioners and staff did not provide a substantive procurement response during the public comment period; the committee had already voted to recommend the Heritage contract to the full board earlier in the meeting.

Paradigm's comment has been noted by the committee; procurement staff and commissioners said they would meet with the commenter after the meeting to review the bid materials.