Lowest Bidder Proves Costly

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Article from The IEQ Review (http://www.imakenews.com/pureaircontrols/e_article000200993.cfm?x=a2lM0SC,aq2bVwy) November 12, 2003

Lowest Bidder Proves Costly

Schools plagued by leaks

by Ovalle, Miami Herald

The district's own maintenance crews plowed more than $2 million in repair work into the schools within two years of opening, according to a Herald analysis published in June.

''I know nothing about the company,'' said Dellagloria, North Miami's city attorney. ``But simply because it's a Dade County entity giving out the bid, something is bound to go wrong.''

District officials say they had no choice but accept F. & L.'s bid, the lowest of four submitted for the project in July.

The school district's prequalification committee, which meets monthly to assess builders qualified to bid on projects, still lists F. & L. as eligible. Earlier this year, a schools construction coordinator gave the company a poor performance review.

Officials, however, say F. & L. is one of five companies now under review by the committee.

''We are very committed to really oversee our projects to ensure that the mistakes that have been done in the past are not repeated,'' said Victor Alonso, the interim director of the district's building division. ``Whether it's F. & L. or another contractor.''

F. & L. declined to comment for this story, but the company's president said in June that the school district at times blames builders when architects or school system project managers could have contributed to problem projects. The company has promised to fix leaks.

In June, a Herald series found that four builders, including F. & L., are still allowed to bid for school board construction jobs even though they built some of the most-troubled schools in the district.

Combined, the companies built 27 of the 77 new schools and additions damaged by water leaks. And the district's maintenance crews have spent millions fixing defective or incomplete work at schools the companies built, mostly since 1995.

Superintendent Merrett Stierheim said on Friday that while the district had no choice but to accept F. & L.'s bid, school system inspectors will rigorously keep watch over construction.

''I give you this assurance and put my credibility on the line that I want to make sure that we have inspectors out there that are doing their jobs,'' Stierheim said. ``Contractors be forewarned. We are expecting quality construction.''

The district paid F. & L. $41.5 million to build four new schools: Lawton Chiles Middle, Eugenia Elementary, Eve Elementary and R.R. Moton Elementary. The district also paid the company about $4.7 million to build a middle school to complete the Jane S. K-8 school in South Miami-Dade. The school opened in 2001.

Recently, the district commissioned a study of leaking schools and found that had mildew growth on walls, weather strips missing from door frames and cracks in walls.

The construction of North Miami's K-8 school has been a source of contention between the district and the city, which in 2000 leased the land to the district for $1 a year. The deal called for the district to build the K-8 center ''expeditiously'' to ease North Miami's overcrowded schools.

In recent months, the city has threatened to sue the district because it says the district broke the lease by failing to build the school. The district says that delays came because of squabbles with state and federal agencies over protected wetlands.

Also, the school district has balked at North Miami's demand for an amended lease that would guarantee construction start and stop dates because it would be fined if it does not meet the timetable.

North Miami has also asked that the district allow city building officials to monitor the school's construction.

The school board said that although official inspections can only done by state-certified inspectors, it welcomes ''joint visits'' by North Miami building officials and school inspectors, according to a letter sent to the city by Stierheim last week.

''The school system's process of building, inspecting and accepting schools is a sham upon the public,'' said Novack, the mayor of Surfside who is also a member of the state-appointed board investigating Miami-Dade schools construction. ``Their arrogance is incredible.''

For more information, contact:

Alan L. Wozniak, CIAQP

(800) 422-7873 ext 802

info@...

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