• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

County upholds bid award, despite protest by competitor

February 7, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has upheld the award of a three-year contract with Sunbelt Sod & Grading Company, for as-needed sod, despite a protest by a competitor.

The three-year award is for the amount of $1,755,000 — which works out to $585,000 for fiscal year 2023; $585,000 for fiscal year 2024; and $585,000 for fiscal year 2025.

The contract is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2022 and runs through Sept. 30, 2025.

The county had its bid opening on Aug. 2 and Sunbelt Sod & Grading Company, based in Hillsborough County, was the sole bidder.

After the bid was opened, the current contract holder, Megascapes Landscape & Maintenance, based in Pasco County, contacted the county’s purchasing department and said its bid would have been much lower.

The county’s purchasing staff subsequently issued a notice to reject all bids and notified Megascapes that it planned to bid out the work again.

But that decision was protested by Sunbelt, which argued it would be at a competitive disadvantage because its price had been revealed.

The county agreed and, as is permitted, negotiated with Sunbelt to achieve a lower price and a fixed price for three years.

Megascapes then protested the county’s decision not to re-bid the contract.

That protest was denied by County Administrator Mike Carballa, who determined Megascapes had no standing.

The county’s position is that it is bound to uphold the integrity of its process.

Next, the issue came to the county board for its consideration at its Jan. 24 meeting.

Charles Graham, representing Megascapes, acknowledged that he failed to submit a bid on the project. He said his company had intended to do so and had even calculated its bid amount, which would have been a reduction of its current contract amount.

“We totally missed it. Didn’t see it. Human error,” Graham said.

“I finally placed a call to the purchasing department and realized to my horror that three days earlier it had closed. We had fully intended to submit a bid.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Graham: “I think we have to be fair to everyone.

“As much as I would love to pay less money …  if you don’t bid, you don’t bid.”

Commissioner Seth Weightman agreed: “We have to uphold the integrity of this process.”

So did Commissioner Gary Bradford: “A mistake was made. They acknowledged it. A bid came in. The county played by the rules and I think that, because of that, we should support, uphold the decision by the county administrator.”

Published February 08, 2023

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Exciting things are happening at Del Webb Bexley, the 55+ active adult residential community just off Sunlake Boulevard, … [Read More...] about New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

TPA-Parkview-Myrtle

Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to thoughtful details and meaningful value … [Read More...] about Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza on April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be bounce houses, games, music, food trucks, and scheduled egg scrambles. The event will be at the outside football fields and basketball court. Registration is required to participate in the egg scrambles. The cost is $3 per child. Children ages 2 to 10 can register with their age division and time frame at Secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl/catalog. For questions, call 813-929-1220. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

The Downtown Dade City Art Walk will take place April 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be more than 20 art locations for guests to meet the artists and shop local artwork, as well as a little Pre-Casso Exhibit for young aspiring artists. There will be an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., along with a map distribution, at Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

Hope City Church, 5513 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an Easter Bash on April 1, for the whole family. Admission is free. For information, call 813-948-7555. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

04/01/2023 – Historical Association

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet on April 1 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. Participants can discover and discuss historical events, places and people of Zephyrhills and Pasco County. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Historical Association

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: