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Community leaders criticize proposed no-bid $44M school contract, demand greater minority participation
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the SFUSD board they oppose advancing a $44 million construction contract without competitive bidding, saying the contract bypassed local firms and asking the board to ensure higher minority and neighborhood contractor participation.
Several community members used the public comment period at the Feb. 12 San Francisco Unified School District board meeting to object to a proposed school-construction contract and press for stronger minority and local-hire commitments.
Willie Ratcliffe, identifying himself as general manager of Verizon Sun Developers, told the board the contract was being advanced without a required competitive bid or request for proposals. "There is no bid. There is not a RFP put out. We've checked all the records, and this is completely fraudulent to move in that direction," Ratcliffe said, urging the board to delay action and reopen negotiations so local firms could compete.
Robert Woods questioned the district's use of a no-bid award, saying a $44,000,000 contract had been issued "with no bid" and that the community had been denied job opportunities tied to that work. "We asking for a chance," Woods said, explaining that local residents and minority contractors had been left out of the contracting process.
Oscar James, a Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood leader, told the board the community expects robust participation: "We are demanding 50% community employment, a 100% citywide contractors," James said, referencing earlier local agreements that, he said, guaranteed high levels of local participation.
The transcript records these allegations and demands in public comment; district procurement staff or project managers did not offer a response during the recorded segments cited. The board did not take immediate action on the comments in the meeting record; community members asked that the district reconsider the procurement approach and ensure community benefits were realized.
