November 13, 2006
WHAT IS THE COST OF MINORITY PURCHASING POLICIES IN MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY?
Watchdog has been trying to get this information for a long time and so far has only gotten bits and pieces of the picture. Just last week I got an answer to an open records request at the MLGW. I want to describe the picture of what it takes to get information from the MLGW.
Since they raised the copy price from 25 cents to 50 cents I am forced to take my own copy machine to the site. I am met by a very lovely young lady who is very polite and courteous and am taken to a nearby office and presented with a huge stack of documents. Then a very nice male executive shows up and keeps company with me for several hours while I make copies on my somewhat tired and slow copy machine. I am glad for the company and we discuss politics, world problems and other issues and it helps pass the time and also keeps me from stealing the MLGW paper clips. Then I finally finish and head for home. The thought does pass my mind that all the information on these copies could have been sent by email, but NO that would be too easy and modern. Let’s stick to the old ways, bring on the turkey quills and ink pot.
Here is the information that I found. On P. O. # 122510 dated 7/12/04 Thomas Consultants Inc were given a job for $1,420,812.00 for computers over a bid of $1,358,037.00 from Dell. This is a $62,655.00 difference. Thomas promised a firm price for 1 year and a 5% increase in the 2nd year and a 5% increase in the 3rd year. Dell quoted no increase for the 2nd and 3rd years. Since the computers were to be purchased over several years, this was a significant difference. Also Thomas Consultants has received purchase orders in 2006 in the amount of $993,013.10.
The board of the MLGW stated that the contract was to be given to Thomas Consultants, Inc based on specifications and the intent of the MLGW Supplier Diversity Policy.
There was another huge contract for 1500 mini-tower personal computers and 225 high end laptop computers. Dell’s bid was $2,398,005 and Thomas bid $2,556,335, a difference of $158,330. The contract was originally given to Trinity Technologies, Inc in 2004 but eventually on February 2, 2006 it was given to Thomas Technologies in the amount of $1,972,572. This is to be at the Dell price plus 5% and given to Thomas.
See the documents below showing these facts.
MLGW contracts and board minutes for Thomas Consultants contracts
It is further noted that MLGW, the City of Memphis and Shelby County government can buy computers direct off the State of Tennessee contract with Dell and recently Shelby County put out a bid proposal for Dell Computers (SBI001230) and watchdog followed it closely with an open records request to see who ended up with the bid. I was finally told that the proposal was pulled and they were going to buy the computers off the state contract. More on this later. The state contract can be seen below.
State of Tennessee contract for Dell computers
These are the facts. You decide if your tax money is being spent wisely.
WHAT IS THE COST OF MINORITY PURCHASING POLICIES IN MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY?
Watchdog has been trying to get this information for a long time and so far has only gotten bits and pieces of the picture. Just last week I got an answer to an open records request at the MLGW. I want to describe the picture of what it takes to get information from the MLGW.
Since they raised the copy price from 25 cents to 50 cents I am forced to take my own copy machine to the site. I am met by a very lovely young lady who is very polite and courteous and am taken to a nearby office and presented with a huge stack of documents. Then a very nice male executive shows up and keeps company with me for several hours while I make copies on my somewhat tired and slow copy machine. I am glad for the company and we discuss politics, world problems and other issues and it helps pass the time and also keeps me from stealing the MLGW paper clips. Then I finally finish and head for home. The thought does pass my mind that all the information on these copies could have been sent by email, but NO that would be too easy and modern. Let’s stick to the old ways, bring on the turkey quills and ink pot.
Here is the information that I found. On P. O. # 122510 dated 7/12/04 Thomas Consultants Inc were given a job for $1,420,812.00 for computers over a bid of $1,358,037.00 from Dell. This is a $62,655.00 difference. Thomas promised a firm price for 1 year and a 5% increase in the 2nd year and a 5% increase in the 3rd year. Dell quoted no increase for the 2nd and 3rd years. Since the computers were to be purchased over several years, this was a significant difference. Also Thomas Consultants has received purchase orders in 2006 in the amount of $993,013.10.
The board of the MLGW stated that the contract was to be given to Thomas Consultants, Inc based on specifications and the intent of the MLGW Supplier Diversity Policy.
There was another huge contract for 1500 mini-tower personal computers and 225 high end laptop computers. Dell’s bid was $2,398,005 and Thomas bid $2,556,335, a difference of $158,330. The contract was originally given to Trinity Technologies, Inc in 2004 but eventually on February 2, 2006 it was given to Thomas Technologies in the amount of $1,972,572. This is to be at the Dell price plus 5% and given to Thomas.
See the documents below showing these facts.
MLGW contracts and board minutes for Thomas Consultants contracts
It is further noted that MLGW, the City of Memphis and Shelby County government can buy computers direct off the State of Tennessee contract with Dell and recently Shelby County put out a bid proposal for Dell Computers (SBI001230) and watchdog followed it closely with an open records request to see who ended up with the bid. I was finally told that the proposal was pulled and they were going to buy the computers off the state contract. More on this later. The state contract can be seen below.
State of Tennessee contract for Dell computers
These are the facts. You decide if your tax money is being spent wisely.
posted by watchdog at
2:10 PM
2 Comments:
Thanks for what you are doing. This is information that needs to be out in the public arena. I wonder if a class action lawsuit might force some changes.
By
John Harvey, at 6:37 PM
Your link to the TN State price list is wrong. You show Dell Precision workstations, which are higher-end systems used for applications such as CAD or GIS.
The State desktop contract is for Dell Optiplex GX620 systems starting around $705 with a 17" LCD monitor. A reasonably well configured Vista-capable system comes in around $860.
By
Anonymous, at 9:58 PM
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