Hillsborough procurement director defends consensus scoring and record checks

Scott Stromer, Hillsborough County’s Director of Procurement, testified that the county uses consensus scoring — a deliberative committee process that produces a single agreed score — rather than a mechanical averaging of individual scores. Stromer told the hearing that consensus scoring allows the committee to bring expertise and context to the deliberation and that it is distinct from a mathematical average.

“Consensus scoring is…they deliberate to arrive at a general consensus as an overall score,” Stromer said while explaining the committee’s process. He also testified the county verified licensure records through state agencies (FDACS) when documents were not attached to proposals and that those publicly available verifications influenced how the county treated the omission. Stromer said, based on his review, he found the committee’s actions to be rational and in keeping with the county’s discretionary authority under the procurement rules.

Stromer acknowledged that some arguments presented at the hearing were new and that he had not had an opportunity to fully review new material before responding, and he emphasized that new allegations typically are not permitted at a protest hearing because the hearing officer cannot verify late-submitted evidence on the spot. The hearing master reserved decision-making until transcript review.