GO PRO reader feedback

Multiple reactions to “single bid” column

[The following was addressed to GoPro columnist Fred Marks:]

I just completed reading your article published in the July 2010 issue. I too share your frustration about receiving one bid. (See “Only one bid… now what?.”) This does not happen frequently, only rarely, even after we have polled prospective bidders and attempted to write complete and fair specifications and clearly identified award criteria. Unfortunately the bid project schedule is typically controlled by others than purchasing, so when the bid opens the project is already behind schedule, or at least it seems. In the event we accept a single bid, we check the pricing to ensure it mirrors industry price levels before awarding it and developing a justification for the award. Otherwise, we reject the bid and start over.

I appreciate your article and always learn something from it.

— Chris Alsop, Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Thanks for the laugh this morning. As I delayed tackling the pile of work on my desk, I flipped open the issue of GoPro that arrived yesterday. As usual, I flipped to the back page first [to read Fred Marks’ column]. Once again, the opening paragraph made me smile. Love the sense of humor. Nice list of questions, too.

— Scot Case, UL Environment, Philadelphia

There are many people out there today that can appreciate [Mr. Marks’] frustration about receiving only one bid – buyers as well as vendors.

One suggestion would be to hold a pre-bid meeting. Not only is this a great opportunity to go over aspects of the RFB/P that could be confusing, but it’s a terrific way to unravel what’s on the minds of your potential bidders and see what can be done to stimulate additional participation.

Pre-bid meetings have proven to be very helpful to project bid activity and probably would have eliminated the element of surprise you encountered when you only received one “nice fat envelope.”

— Shelley Temkin, Green Proposals, Los Angeles

Editor’s note: Green Proposals facilitates pre-bid meetings via webinars (vendors pay a fee) and provides the ability to accept bids electronically.

Putting ethics out there

I just wanted to say that the article “Ethics and morals: Inside and out” by J. Kevin Beardsley [August/September 2010] was excellent. We need more people acting on their ethics, which are an “outward expression of their internal character and nature.”

Thanks, Mr. Beardsley, for putting it out there as it should be.

— Marie Wright, Columbia, S.C.