Thankfully  we are moving forward with a Design build RFP in what we believe to be a process to benefit Mira Bay . The next step is to get the RFP written,  approved and then out on the street.

Keep in mind that the “design build” approach is;  instead of stating the specific type of repair that a contractor must use to repair the failing and potentially failing seawalls, the design build request allows the bidding seawall contractors to have an engineer design what they believe will  be the best, most cost effective repair. Each contractor can then come in with that design, based upon the required engineering specs , wall strength, factor of safety,  etc etc. as stated in the RFP for an apple-to-apples comparison for a decision by the Board with the help of our District Engineer, Cardno.   One benefit to our community is that each bidder will not be relying on Langan for its design, but their own engineers who will sign off on their own designs as an effective repair method.

Aforementioned; We have a District Engineer, Cardno, they are the ones we should be relying on and only them for what is viable or not from the designs we receive from the  contractors.  It was mentioned last night that Langan should have some say so.

 

There is no way a contractor should have any say over another contractor a gov’t agency (the CDD) decides to do business with.  This is a conflict of interest.

 

Case in point: We currently have 2 landscape companies, Greenworks &  LTKim, we do not allow them to check on each others work because that is a conflict of interest, and this board was wise enough to hire an over site person through our District Management to look after both of them.   Allowing Langan to over site of any new contractor is a conflict of their own interest, there is no reason for them to want another engineering firm to take over for them, why?  simple answer— $$$$$.

We own all of Langan work, it can all be turned over to Cardno, we really don’t need them anymore if another firm has their own engineers, which may prove to be more cost effective anyway.    Thus this needs to go strictly to Cardno,  our CDD District Engineer for an unbiased decision., if Newland wants their engineer to take a look at it, that is fine, because they have a vested interest in the community,  allowing another contractor to weigh in is a conflict of interest.   Only weighing in on this because I know this is not allowed (contractor over contractor) in Federal Gov’t over site where I work.   None of us want to continue paying for something we already have , we don’t want to see more arguments between contractors, which are nothing more than their bottom line, and especially us getting into any further legal issues because of that .

 

Tim