Irrigation Pump Contractors Cancel The title field is required!

1. Andrew Wolfe

   

   0 posts
   
   7/31/2012 2:07 PM

   I work with 18 State owned golf courses. Some of them have dated primitive irrigation systems/pumps and others have modern systems. Qualified irrigation pump contractors are not common in Kentucky and there are only one or two that cover most of the state. This is not sufficient to get 3 quotes as I need to do for larger more expensive repairs.
   
   what do you all do?
   
   In the private sector I developed a relationship with ONE contractor and doing so never let me down. Now that I work for the State, I do not want to put myself in a compromised position that could appear to an auditor or anyone else that I have a relationship with a vendor in any way that was not in accordance to procurement law. I don't have a relationship with any particular contractor beyond the work they do for me, but creating a competitive environment is difficult when there is very few companies that can do what we need them to do. I do not feel comfortable hiring a company that does not have experience in golf irrigation applications.....that is why some of my systems are designed/installed as poorly as they are.
   
   Any advice is appreciated.
   
   Feel free to email me directly....
   
   andrew.wolfe@ky.gov

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   7/31/2012 3:07 PM

   Andrew,
   
   We have to get three "competitive" bids as well. Competitive being the keyword. In certain circumstances, there may be only one vendor that can do the work sufficiently, or one vendor that carries a specific product. That being said, we still send out bids to multiple companies, and when they don't respond, it means they can't service us. We look at those that can service us, and go select a vendor from there. Competitive could bean that although there are companies that can figure out how to service your pumps, they may not be a competitor of a company that is fully qualified. Therefore they are not sent a RFP.
   
   You could also be very specific in your bid, which would also deter any companies that don't handle those specific systems from the bidding process.

   
   
   
   
3. Gary Carls

   

   19 posts
   
   7/31/2012 3:07 PM

   Andrew,
   
   Not sure how difficult your purchasing people may be to work with but we at times do "sole source" justifications for contractors that have specialized skills that we need. Things have gotten tighter over the last few years but it still might be worth checking out. We usually list the skills we need and explain why there may be a limited number of companies that can provide those services locally at the level of competency we need. You have to be as specific as you can to make sure you only get qualified contractors.
   
   In the long run it doesn't make sense to hire a contractor that doesn't understand your systems or can't service them properly. If you can't justify a "sole source" you need to make sure that your RFP is very specific so you get the right service that you need. That will at least help make those less qualified have second thoughts before they actually submit a proposal. It also often causes them to bid higher because they are unsure of what they might be getting involved with.
   
   Hope this helps some.

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
4. Wahlin Scott B

   
   7/31/2012 6:07 PM

   We do sole source with our 2003 Flowtronex Pump Station, but have the same issue regarding getting three quotes. There are just not that many companies out there to contact. I am fortunate in that our municipality also has a water department to back me up on this. This is one of many areas I believe where municipal guys could compare notes to make decision making more efficient.