HISD Superintendent Terry Grier continues to question the district's process for awarding contracts, saying that the rule-based process has been hampered by influence.
Grier raised the specter of improper influence during last week's board meeting, and again Thursday at a board workshop.
His comments last week came after the board gave the OK to begin negotiations with four companies within the Job Order Contract program. The program provides for repairs and small construction at various Houston ISD facilities. KBR, Fort Bend Mechanical, RHJ-JOC and Jamail & Smith Construction were all awarded contracts.
Without laying blame on anyone specifically, Grier spoke in strict terms, saying the integrity of the process had to be preserved.
"I have seen a procurement department made up of independent folks rate bids from a variety of different companies across the district to do a lot of different work," Grier said last week. "And then I've seen staff -- just for whatever reason -- pull names off of a list and put other names back on a list, (with) no rhyme or reason except, quite frankly, influence where influence has no business coming from."
At a board workshop Thursday, Trustee Anna Eastman asked why the agenda item for a renovation contract for three area elementary schools was held from the monthly board meeting and moved to the board workshop meeting.
Grier said he wanted to make sure that the proposed contract was handled in line with state law and HISD policy. He said the entire procurement process, including looking at the members sitting on the oversight committee, needs to be evaluated.
Grier declined to elaborate on his comments, said Michele Pola, his chief of staff.
"The district staff needs to have a full understanding of what the law is. We have to make sure we review the whole process and then practice the process," Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett said.
The board voted unanimously to approve the construction contracts for $140,000 in projects at John Durkee, Walter W. Scarborough and John G. Osborne elementary schools.
Contact Lynn Walsh at lynn@texaswatchdog.org or 713-228-2850. On Twitter @lwalsh.
Comments
RSS feed
StumbleUpon
Twitter
Newsvine
Facebook
Digg
De.licio.us
YouTube
