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Legislator defends "responsible bidder" law after procurement problems and weak appraisals
Summary
Nancy Barr said a new responsible-bidder measure aims to formalize how the county evaluates contractors after repeated change orders and cited a county property sale where a first appraisal was far too high, prompting reappraisals and a higher number of bidders.
County Legislator Nancy Barr described the impetus for a recently advanced responsible-bidder law intended to tighten procurement oversight and reduce repeated change orders and poor performance by contractors.
Barr said the law creates clearer criteria and monitoring so that repeated problems—such as contractors who submit very low bids and later ask for change orders—are less likely to occur. "We have to know that...when we're hiring them whether or not we can trust their bid," she said, explaining the aim is to move responsibility out of individual recollection and into documented standards.
As an example she cited a county property sale in which an early appraisal was significantly overstated. After additional appraisals the county received five bidders and selected a higher offer. Barr recounted the appraisal company had been paid about "$5,000" for the first appraisal and said that type of error should prompt oversight and review.
The law, Barr said, will provide county staff with tools to flag contractors with repeated problems and to monitor performance as projects proceed. She framed the change as good-government housekeeping intended to protect taxpayer dollars and improve procurement outcomes.
