In what is an all too common occurrence, another government agency recently received an audit finding for failure to document its verification that vendors on federally funded projects were not debarred or suspended from doing business with the federal government.
The Yakima Housing Authority (Washington State) stated that they did verify that none of the three vendors that were the subject of the audit were debarred and listed on the federal government's website EPLS. However, the housing authority failed to maintain documentation that they had checked. They should have printed a copy from EPLS demonstrating that the vendors were not debarred.
The housing authority's failure to document their verification resulted in them receiving an audit finding from the Washington State Auditor's Office.
To read a copy of the audit finding, click here.
Evening program on "Agencies: Back to Basics"What are some of the implications when one public agency offers professional engineering services to other agencies? Is this in compliance with the requirements for a Qualifications Based Selection process? What is the impact on liability, risk, and indemnification? What happens in the case of professional negligence?These and other questions surrounding this will be addressed.When: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 (4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)Where: Rock Salt on Latitude 47 Restaurant (1232 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle)Sponsored by: APWA's Management & Public Administration CommitteeCost: $37 (includes dinner)Speaker: Jim Doherty, Legal Consultant, Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC)For more information and to register, visit APWA's website by clicking here.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible cost of operation an automobile will go down, effective January 1, 2010, from 55 cents a mile to 50 cents a mile.Visit the IRS website for additional information.
The following is a list of some of the training and speaking that I'm scheduled to do so far in 2010.- When Bad Things Happen to Good Contracts: Bid Protests, Claims of Error, and Scandals - January 14, 2010 - Swedish Cultural Center, Seattle, WA [Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) - Northwest Region]
- Public Works Apprenticeship Requirements in Washington State - January 19, 2010 - Edmonds, WA [Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)]
- Bidder Responsibility: Balancing the Interests of Owners and Contractors - February 17, 2010 - Lynnwood Convention Center, Lynwood, WA [Utility Contractors Association of Washington (UCAW)]
- Public Works Contract Close-out: Bonding, Retainage, and Claims - February 24, 2010 [Michael E. Purdy Associates - Everett, WA]
- Issues and Trends in Public Project Delivery - February 26, 2010 [Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) - Pacific Northwest Chapter]
- Writing Effective Technical Specifications for Public Works Projects - March 3, 2010 [Michael E. Purdy Associates - Vancouver, WA]
- Crafting and Managing Supplemental Bidder Responsibility Criteria - April 1, 2010 - Bellingham, WA [Pacific Northwest Public Purchasing Association (PNPPA)]
- Purchasing, Bidding, and Contract Management for Local Agencies - April 7-8, 2010 - Tri-Cities, WA [WSDOT's Local Technical Assistance Program and Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington (MRSC)]
- Public Works Contract Close-out: Bonding, Retainage, and Claims - May 6, 2010 [Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)]
- Purchasing, Bidding, and Contract Management for Local Agencies - May 11-12, 2010 - Bellevue, WA [WSDOT's Local Technical Assistance Program and Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington (MRSC)]
- 2010 Washington State Legislative Updates - June 2, 2010 (Renton, WA), June 8, 2010 (Everett, WA), June 16, 2010 (Camas, WA), June 23, 2010 (Yakima, WA) [American Public Works Association (APWA) - Washington State Chapter and Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington (MRSC)]
- Purchasing, Bidding, and Contract Management for Local Agencies - September 22-23, 2010 - Camas, WA [WSDOT's Local Technical Assistance Program and Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington (MRSC)]
- Purchasing, Bidding, and Contract Management for Local Agencies - October 13-14, 2010 - Mt. Vernon, WA [WSDOT's Local Technical Assistance Program and Municipal Research & Services Center of Washington (MRSC)]
I'm also talking with a number of public agencies about specific training to meet their needs, and am looking at sponsoring some training in central Washington.
Washington State's Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB), a design and construction industry stakeholder group appointed by the Governor to improve public works contracting practices in the state, is on the list of boards and commissions that Governor Chris Gregoire is recommending be eliminated. The proposal is a cost savings measure as part of the Governor's attempt to balance a large budget deficit. Elimination of CPARB would have a detrimental effect on public contracting in the state, as CPARB serves as a valuable forum for discussion of competing interests. In past years, CPARB has crafted and recommended new laws to the Legislature, and is held in high regard by the Legislature.
The 2010 Legislative session convenes in Olympia on January 11th and is scheduled to conclude its 60 day session on March 11, 2010. To track bills being introduced and heard, visit the website of the State Legislature.
I will be speaking next Thursday evening, January 14, 2010 at the monthly dinner meeting of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) . 
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