Every so often I like to browse contracts posted on the State Procurement Office website, especially those seeking by bypass competitive bidding due to emergency conditions. Administrative problems behind the scenes are often disclosed in these requests for exemption.

Here are a few I flagged in a quick review today.

The Department of Transportation Highways Division asked to be exempted because a new contract to purchase highway signs has been delayed by an ongoing bid protest dating back to August 2016. The Chief Procurement Officer rejected the request.

Requesting Department: Transportation/Highways. Contractor: To be determined. Amount: $200,000.
Work shall consist of furnishing and delivering traffic signs at the unit bid price for the Island of Oahu. The new contract cannot be scheduled for bidding due to an on-going protest….This request for an exemption from Chapter 103D, HRS will allow the State (DOT, Highways Div.-Oahu District) to procure the materials over the Small Purchase threashold limit of $100,000 while the protest is being resolved….”
Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Comments: The request is disapproved as it lacks justification for an exemption. Setting a precedence (sic) for exempting the small purchase threshold when a department fails to resolve a protest in a timely manner is not warranted….The Department is advise to resolve the protest and resolicit with the appropriate method of procurement.”

Read the Department’s request.

Honolulu Stadium’s sole passenger elevator “has been operating erradically (sic) and breaking down unexpectedly,” according to the request for exemption. Any bets on how long this has been going on?

Requesting Department: Stadium Authority. Contractor: Kone, Inc. Amount: $150,000. The Stadium’s only passenger elevator has been operating erradically (sic) and breaking down unexpectedly. People have been stuck & requiring assistance to be removed. During this past busy season, it was down for several events including highly attended UH football games. Breakdowns and intermittent service outages necessitates action be taken to address safety, accessibility, & evacuation concerns. The elevator serves a number of different transport functions, including transporting handicapped, dignitaries, food & bev. contractor, coaches, press, & stadium staff. When the elevator is out of service, it prevents access to levels for those with certain mobility disabilities, which creates non-compliant situation. Unexpected break downs result in Stadium staff being redirected to transport by golf cart, those people that require assistance up and down the circular pedestrial walk-ramp. Transport by cart creates liability issues at it traverses between walking and riding patrons.
Read the department’s request.

Work to repair a leaking roof in a building used by the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Dept. of Health couldn’t be completed by the original deadline due to a nearly two-month delay “in contract processing by the Department…”

Requesting Department: DOH-Developmental Disabilities Division. Contractor: Kapili Construction LLC. Extension of contract period. Amount: $12,499.28
This request for exemption…is to complete the remaining work for the roof repair for the Hale A Complex located at 2201 Waimano Home Road, Oahu, with Kapili Construction LLC. KC did not complete the roof repairs due to the delay in contract processing by the Department of Health and poor weather conditions which prohibited KC from working on the roof. The contract start date was March 1, 2017. Due to internal contract processing, the contract was executed on April 18, 2017 in the amount of $76,500.

The Hale A building roof leaking has been a problem for several years. Several ceiling tiles fell in February 2017. Fortunately, there was no injury to DDD employees or visitors and no other property damage. The DDD Administrator deemed the Hale A roof repair an urgent matter requiring immediate attention. KC was awarded this contract on February 24, 2017….
Read the department’s request.