By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
The San Benito Police Department (SBPD) will be receiving a new fleet.
City Commissioners approved Tuesday night the purchase of 12 2011 fully-equipped Crown Victorias for the PD, this after concern was expressed recently by San Benito police officers regarding the current units suffering wear and tear.
The Crown Vics were purchased at base fee of $20,500 per unit; $5,000 will also be spent on customizations needed for the department.
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3 comments
Why on earth would they do competitive bidding?
Does the city have a purchase/procurement policy? Inquiring minds want to know . . .
It is about time!
Former Chief George Gomez had been requesting new police vehicles for the SBPD for the last few years during the budget season. I know because I attended those budget workshops. It was always the same reply, “The city does not have the money!” The SBPD deserved better than this, as did the public safety and the safety of the police officers.
This budget season, the request for Certificates of Obligations to fund new police vehicles was denied by the City Commission. It was after former Chief George Gomez was relieved of his duties and publicly blamed for not ordering new police vehicles that the City Administration and the Mayor decide to purchase new police vehicles.
My question to the Mayor and the City Administration is: What happen to the process of competitive bidding? I may have missed it but I don’t recall seeing in the local newspaper, SBNews, the publishing for RPQ’s or bid requests for police vehicles. Twelve police units with options at $25,00 per unit equals $300,000 total purchase price.
There must exist a certain dollar level of expenditure where major purchases must be made through a public competitive bidding process to get the best bang for our tax dollars, after all, we the taxpayers are the ones paying for them.
Inquiring minds want to know!