Are RFQs Immune From Protest Under The Procurement Code?

If you respond to a Request for Quotes (RFQ) issued by a Commonwealth department or agency, can you protest if the resulting purchase order is awarded to another bidder?

According to the Commonwealth’s Office of Administration, the answer is no. In a recent protest, the OA issued a letter which took the remarkable position that “‘Award’ under an RFQ merely results in a Purchase Order under an existing multiple-award contract; therefore an RFQ is not the solicitation or award of a contract, and cannot be protested.”

Needless to say, this position is not supported by a fair reading of section 1711.1 of the Commonwealth Procurement Code which allows an aggrieved bidder or prospective bidder to protest the solicitation or award of a state contract. Certainly, a purchase order that is part of a multiple-award contract is nonetheless a contract; indeed, without issuance of a purchase order, the multiple-award contract is essentially meaningless. Likewise, an RFQ is a solicitation for a quote which may result in a contract – i.e., the purchase order.

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Bid Protests, Com. of Pa., Procurement Code Comments Off

Pennsylvania Initiates Disparity Study For Small Diverse Business Program

In June 2017, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania initiated a disparity study that will provide information to help the Department of General Services (DGS) implement the Pennsylvania’s Small Diverse Business Program. The expected completion date for the disparity study is September 2018.

The study will include analyses of the participation of minority-, women-, disabled-, veteran-, and LGBT-owned businesses in prime contracts and subcontracts awarded by DGS during the period from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2016.

DGS has created a webpage highlighting the disparity study, with materials and a description of study team members.

The materials presented at the disparity study’s kickoff meeting can be found here.

An FAQ on the disparity study can be found here.

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Com. of Pa., DBE/MBE/WBE, DGS Comments Off

Commonwealth Court: Laches Requires Reversal Of Injunction Issued For Violation Of Separations Act

A recent decision by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania illustrates the extreme perils of waiting too long to challenge a violation of the public bidding laws.

In December 2015, the West Jefferson Hill School District solicited bids for a new high school project. All sanitary, storm, and water line installations inside and up to five feet outside the building were included in the scope of the prime plumbing contract. All site sanitary, storm, and water line installations more than five feet from the building were included in the scope of the prime general contract as “site utility” work. In January 2016, the school district awarded the prime plumbing contract to Wheels Mechanical Contracting (Wheels). Read more

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Court Decisions, Separations Act Comments Off

Regulations Issued For City of Philadelphia Best Value Contracting

On July 27, the regulations governing the City of Philadelphia’s purchase of goods and non-professional services under the “best value” standard became official.

Under the regulations, the Procurement Commissioner can permit a contract to be awarded under the “best value” standard only after a City department has made a detailed recommendation to the Commissioner. The regulations also cover issues such as the technical scoring criteria, makeup of the selection committee, and the evaluation and scoring of bidder proposals. For example, price must receive at least 30% of the total score and non-price attributes must receive at least 50% of the total score.

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Best Value Contracting, City of Phila. Comments Off

Third Circuit Affirms Decision On DRPA Bridge Contract But Reverses Judicial Award Of Contract To Low Bidder

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently affirmed a N.J. federal district court decision which found that that the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) had acted improperly in rejecting the low bidder for a painting contract for the Commodore Barry Bridge. My original post on the DRPA case can be found here.

In 2016, the DRPA rejected Alpha Painting & Construction Company, Inc.’s low bid and awarded the contract to Corcon, Inc., the second low bidder. After its protest was denied, Alpha sued the DRPA to rescind the award to Corcon. The district court found that the DRPA’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, and ordered the DRPA to award the contract to Alpha. The DRPA appealed.

On appeal, the Third Circuit agreed with the district court, finding in a lengthy opinion that the DRPA’s decision to reject the low bidder was irrational, arbitrary, and capricious. However, the Third Circuit held that district court went too far in directing the DRPA to award the contract to Alpha. Instead, the Third Circuit remanded the case for entry of a more limited injunction, stating:

Here, DRPA arbitrarily removed Alpha from contention for the Phase 2 contract. Accordingly, Alpha should be restored to competition and DRPA should evaluate Alpha’s bid and affirmatively determine, per its guidelines, whether Alpha, the lowest bidder, is a “responsible” contractor.

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Court Decisions, DRPA Comments Off

AIA Pennsylvania To Host Debate On Separations Act

On Thursday, July 13, AIA Pennsylvania, the unifying body of the Pennsylvania chapters of the American Institute of Architects, will host a debate on the Separations Act. The moderated debate will take place at Harrisburg University and will feature key players on both sides of the Separations Act. You can find more information and register to attend the event at the AIA Pennsylvania registration page.

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Separations Act Comments Off

DGS Issues List Of Exempt Steel Products For 2017

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has finally issued the list of machinery and equipment steel products which will be exempt for calendar year 2017 under the PA Steel Products Procurement Act. The list was published in the Pa. Bulletin on Saturday, May 13, 2017, and can be found here. New items on the list are noted. The 30-day comment period has now expired. Read more

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in DGS, Steel Products Act Comments Off

Is The Separations Act In Danger Of Repeal?

In Pennsylvania, public construction projects are nearly always governed by the Separations Act, a law that was passed in 1913, more than 100 years ago.

The Separations Act (variations of which also appear in statutes governing Boroughs, Townships, and other government entities) provides as follows:

Hereafter in the preparation of specifications for the erection, construction, and alteration of any public building, when the entire cost of such work shall exceed four thousand dollars, it shall be the duty of the architect, engineer, or other person preparing such specifications, to prepare separate specifications for the plumbing, heating, ventilating, and electrical work; and it shall be the duty of the person or persons authorized to enter into contracts for the erection, construction, or alteration of such public buildings to receive separate bids upon each of the said branches of work, and to award the contract for the same to the lowest responsible bidder for each of said branches.

So, what does this mean? It means that for public building construction in excess of $4,000, all public owners must prepare separate specifications, solicit separate bids, and award separate contracts for general construction, plumbing, heating and ventilating, and electrical work. Read more

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Separations Act Comments Off

Philadelphia Voters Approve Best Value Contracting

It’s official! Philadelphia voters have voted in favor of the best value ballot question. Read more

Posted on May 18, 2017 by Christopher I. McCabe, Esq. in Best Value Contracting, City of Phila. Comments Off

Committee of Seventy Throws Its Weight Behind City Of Philadelphia Best Value Initiative

On Tuesday, May 16, Philadelphia voters will be asked to vote YES or NO to the following ballot question: “Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the award of certain contracts based on best value to the City?”

The ballot question is vague and confusing, and fails to inform voters that the City of Philadelphia now awards contracts on the basis of “lowest responsible bid,” a method that many believe already results in “best value” contracting for the City.

Nonetheless, the nonpartisan Committee of Seventy recently announced its support for the ballot question. The Committee of Seventy is not typically thought of as proficient on matters of public procurement, so it formed a task force comprised of Board members “with contracting experience in the public- and private-sector” to study the issue. Read more