Sarasota News Leader

04/19/2013

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Sarasota News Leader April 19, 2013 Page 30 company. "They are supplying Hillsborough multiplier referenced in the agenda material County and many others with fuel," Morris was used to arrive at the bid totals. "Is there added. "I feel very confident. … I think they another way to look at this?" he asked. will serve us extremely well …" All county departments together purchase He pointed out that Mansfield is "one of the about 1.7 million gallons of fuel a year, Yeo top [fuel] companies. If I could buy stock in replied. "But [no amounts] are guaranteed to 'em, I would." the vendor." Barbetta reiterated, "Again, this parallels exactly what I saw with mowing. We had one extremely low bid, and the next two were much higher, and Mr. Thiele stood up there and said, 'Responsible company. These guys are great,' and five months later, nonperformance. … I can't support this unless you give me something really good to hang my hat on here." Based on the 2012 fiscal year fuel purchases, she continued, staff estimated that Mansfield would be paid about $4,558,000 a year, while the figure for J.H. Williams would be $4,580,000. The bid for Petroleum Traders would be $4,570,000, she said. However, the Procurement memo regarding the bid award notes that Petroleum Traders was deemed inBarbetta also pointed out that Hillsborough eligible for the contract because it did not supCounty is closer to Gainesville than Sarasota ply requested information, including copies of County. active fuel supply contracts. Morris said the savings between the Mansfield "This makes no sense," Patterson said of the bid and that of J.H. Williams was only $10,744. figures Yeo mentioned. Barbetta concurred. "I'm not totally sure what you're looking at," When Barbetta asked whether the ability of he told Barbetta. the other two companies to supply fuel fol"I'm looking at your chart [in the agenda malowing a hurricane raised their bids that much terial]," Barbetta replied. higher than Mansfield's, Yeo said, "Depending Then Karen Yeo of Fleet Services told the on how many hurricanes we have." commissioners, "We didn't have hurricane preparedness in the last [fuel] bid and we "I have a feeling the problem is in what you thought that it was very necessary this time, presented to us [in the agenda material]," Patand the other companies bid a lot higher on terson told Yeo and Morris, "because it doesn't that … Mansfield is giving this service to us at jive at all with what you guys are saying." no price." "We can get additional information to you," Moreover, she said, "We have dealt with Man- Yeo said. sfield in the past and they have been an excelBarbetta made the motion to continue the lent vendor." item to the board's April 23 consent agenda, County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh suggested allowing time for staff to provide that extra that someone explain to the board how the material for the board to review. %

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