Contracting Process Is Fair

Dan Turner’s Aug. 25 column “Firms With Sacramento Ties Often Win State Contracts” made the troubling suggestion that the Department of Conservation’s recent public relations contract and other similar state contracts may be “wired.”

For the sake of quality and innovation, it is important that all qualified public affairs marketing firms have an opportunity to win state contracts. Still, in the competitive bidding process, there are going to be winners and losers. That’s business.

Before awarding our one-year contract to incumbent Stuart Greenbaum Public Relations, the Department of Conservation took great pains to create a fair, objective process and an atmosphere of healthy competition. We were pleased that four firms chose to participate in the competition for the outreach contract. Because the current contract ends on June 30, 1998, we will issue another request for proposals in early 1998. Again, healthy competition and a level playing field will be of utmost importance in this department.

We are currently exploring ways to attract more potential bidders for this contract. We recognize the business of recycling beverage containers occupies a niche in the overall waste management industry, and we are considering a workshop to educate potential bidders about the intricacies and history of the program. This would be prior to the formal bidders’ conference where we will address issues and questions about the actual procurement.

It is disheartening to hear that some companies feel they have no chance to win a state public relations contract, and therefore don’t even try. At the Department of Conservation, we encourage firms to step up and show us what they can do.

JOHN ELLIS

Assistant Director for Recycling

Department of Conservation