THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 3
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2016
Business & Ag
City’s RFP process questioned
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The City of Baker City
recently sent out Requests
for Proposal (RFP) to pur-
chase three new vehicles.
One of the RFP’s that was
sent out September 6, 2016
clearly outlined specifics
required in the consider-
ation of two of the three
vehicles being sought,
compact pick-ups.
The second RFP was for
an SUV. The RFP’s that
were sent out stated that
The City of Baker City
would be accepting bids
until 4 p.m. September 21,
2016.
The documents went on
to list specifics such as
minimum ground clear-
ance, 4-wheel drive,
3.5-liter V-6 gas engine
and concerning the pick-
ups—one needed to be a
double or crew cab and one
needed to be an extended
cab or “access cab.”
It was noted that price
would be a major deter-
mining factor in the selec-
tion however warranty,
ease of operation, ease of
maintenance and overall
value would be considered.
Michelle Owen, Public
Works Director for the
City was responsible for
the RFP and invited any
questions be addressed di-
rectly to her. Additionally,
the official RFP released
stated, “Persons submitting
proposals are encouraged
to explain why their pro-
posal would be in the best
interests of the City.”
That same day, Sep-
tember 6, 2016, owner
of Baker Garage Randy
Dougherty sent Owen an
email that read as follows:
“Michelle, The Chevrolet
Colorado has two bed
lengths. (61.7 inches or
7.0 inches) Does the City
haul anything? We need
clarification of this as well.
Thanks, Randy.”
Owen replied to Dough-
erty’s email saying,
“We are looking for the
shorter bed length. Thus
the request for a compact
pick-up.”
Then on September 19,
2016 Dougherty submitted
his RFP to Owen on behalf
of Baker Garage.
His proposal officially
offered, “A 2017 Chev-
rolet Colorado extended
cab 2.5 liter 4-cylinder in
the amount of $25,659 or
a 2017 Chevrolet Colo-
rado extended cab with a
3.6 liter 6-cylinder in the
amount of $26,783. Also,
accept this as our submit-
tal of a 2017 Chevrolet
Colorado Crew Cab in the
amount of $27,881.”
In a separate proposal
for the SUV he offered
a Chevrolet Traverse for
$26,571. After all propos-
als were received Owen
and staff reviewed the
submissions and a staff
report was prepared for
City Council to consider
at the September 27, 2016
Meeting.
In the late afternoon
on September 27, be-
fore the Council meeting
Dougherty composed an
email that was sent to all
councilors with a copy sent
also to City Manager Fred
Warner. That email stated,
“Mayor and Councilors, At
tonight’s council meeting
you are going to be asked
to support staff recommen-
dation to purchase three (3)
new vehicles. I have a real
issue with the RFP process.
City Staff and the RFP spe-
cifically requested compact
pickups. When I spoke
with Public Works Director
Ms. Owen I was told by
her the Public Works Pick-
ups had to be compact size
vehicles. When I men-
tioned full size she told me
‘No’ the City wants com-
pact size vehicles, shortest
beds possible. Now at
the time to authorize the
expenditure City staff is
recommending purchase of
a full- size pickup, which
Baker Garage, Inc. was
told not to provide a quote
because the City wants
compact pickups. How can
that be fair? Also, I believe
strongly in shopping lo-
cal and supporting local
events. It should be noted
that all three of Baker Ga-
rage, Inc. quotes were un-
der budget. Thank you for
your consideration. Randy
Daugherty President Baker
Garage, Inc.”
No mention of that
email was made at the
City Council meeting that
evening.
As Owen addressed
Council that evening, she
noted that none of the
proposals received met all
of the specifications that
had been outlined in the
original RFP.
She disclosed that one or
more of the submitters had
contacted her for clarifica-
tions or with other ques-
tions.
Owen also disclosed
that a representative from
Tonkin Nissan had con-
tacted her with information
that they had a year-end
2016 model available they
could offer at roughly $500
less than the 2017 they had
submitted a bid for.
This information was
received verbally, after the
close date for bids to be
received.
Owen advised Council
that she did not feel it fair
to even consider this as a
viable option since it was
mentioned after the close
date for official bids and
had not been submitted in
an official bid.
Council agreed with the
exception of Councilor
Lowe who felt the RFP
process should be reopened
allowing for this option to
be considered.
By reopening the RFP
bid, Dougherty and Baker
Garage could have taken
advantage of the opportu-
nity to submit alternatives
as other competitors had
done.
Owen also addressed the
Councils concern of stay-
ing local by advising that
local was considered not
just in town but within the
State, by State purchasing
rules.
She said, “You cannot
buy local just to buy local
within your community.
Oregon is considered local.
You can’t just buy in town
regardless, you have to
have a reason like there
are some cost savings,
travel distance for war-
ranty work (for example).
Our purchasing rules say if
you’re not going to choose
low cost you have to give
reasons why.”
Of the three vehicles sug-
gested by staff, two were
from in town dealers, a
2017 Ford F-150 extended
cab for $25,023.28 from
Gentry Auto Group and a
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
SUV from Baker Garage
for $26,571.
“Randy really sharpened
the pencil and gave us a
good deal on the Traverse
and Ford gave a great deal
on the F-150. I was very
pleased that two of the
three vehicles were able
to come from town,” said
Owen.
The third, a 2017 Nis-
san Frontier at a cost of
$26,442 was from Tonkin
Nissan in the Portland area.
Owen said, “The crew
cab is for use in the water-
shed so the most important
things there were compact
size because of the tight
quarters up there but we
still needed it to carry four
people so that is why it
needed to be a crew cab.
But compact was the most
important thing so we
selected the Nissan, which
was the low cost compact
one and it also had the
highest clearance of them
all. Even though it didn’t
meet all the minimum
requirements it had the
highest clearance of the
ones that were proposed.
On the extended cab we
talked with the employee
that would be using it the
most, it was determined
that clearance and being
compact wasn’t as impor-
tant for in town so we went
with the low cost option
which was the F-150. I felt
like it really ended well.
We had two local dealer-
ships that gave us good
deals and we got to use
them because they were
low. I am disappointed to
hear that he (Dougherty) is
upset because I feel that we
went through the process
just as we should. State
purchasing rules say buy-
ing local is Oregon. Our
direction from the Council
has been clear—low cost
is critical and that is also
what City Manager Fred
Warner said as well, we
we’re focused on costs, so
we picked the low cost.”
It should be noted that
all vehicles were allocated
$30,000 by the budget
board and each vehicle was
under budget.
According to Owen none
of the bids received for
the pick-up met all of the
requested specifications.
Owen also stated, “It
was a request for proposal,
we gave a list of require-
ments but you can propose
what you’d like.”
In an email received by
The Baker County Press,
Dougherty state, “What
the City is doing is just
wrong.”
This leaves the questions:
Should the City look at the
RFP protocol? Are changes
needed? If specifications
as stated in an RFP are not
met should the City con-
sider what was supplied in
a bid or reopen the RFP?
Sumpter has new interim mayor
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Friday, October 7, 2016 — Eastern Oregon
Prices trended generally steady compared to week
ago prices. Most demand lays with the retail/stable
hay. According to some producers, horse owners
are starting to prefer lower sugar, higher protein
hay.
Tons Price Range Wtd Avg
This week:
Alfalfa — Large Square Supreme
60 140.00-140.00 140.00
Last week:
Alfalfa — Small Square Good
250 100.00-100.00 100.00
Alfalfa/Triticale Mix— Small Square Fair
27 110.00-110.00 110.00
USDA Market News Service—AMS.USDA.gov
— Cattle Market Report —
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Vale, Oregon
Cattle sold through the auction: 1282
Steer Calves
300-400# Bulk 138.00 - 154.00 Top 156.00
400-500# Bulk 126.00 - 144.00 Top 146.50
500-600# Bulk 116.00 - 125.75 Top 126.00
Heifer Calves
300-400# Bulk 126.00 - 146.00 Top 148.00
400-500# Bulk 115.00 - 135.00 Top 137.00
500-600# Bulk 109.00 - 118.00 Top 119.00
Yearling Steers
600-700# Bulk 109.00 - 121.00 Top 123.00
700-800# Bulk 103.00 - 114.00 Top 116.00
800-900# Bulk 99.00 - 110.00 Top 111.00
900-1,000# Bulk 94.00 - 107.00 Top 108.00
600-700#
700-800#
800-900#
900-1,000#
Yearling Heifers
Bulk 100.00 - 114.00 Top 116.00
Bulk 97.00 - 109.00 Top 113.00
Bulk 95.00 - 106.00 Top 108.00
Bulk 94.00 - 106.50 Top 108.00
Thin Shelly Cows 41.00 - 54.00
Butcher Cows 58.00 - 69.00
Butcher Bulls 54.00 - 67.00
Pairs Young 1210.00 - 1425.00
Hfretts. 73.00 - 88.00
Stock Cows Young - 975.00 - 1260.00
ProducersLivestock.com
541-473-3136
— Log Price Report —
Price per 1,000 board feet: Northeast Oregon
Currently the local log market is flooded with
fire salvage logs. The log buyer for Malheur
Lumber Co. stated they have all the logs they
need under contract and are not accepting any
new purchases. BCC/LLC of La Grande has
receive so many burned fire salvage logs they
are no longer accepting logs at the La Grande
log yard. Any additional pine logs have to be
delivered to the Elgin Log yard cut in plywood
lengths and to a 8 inch top. For these pine
logs cut in plywood lengths, BCC is offering
$280.00/mbf. They are also paying $420.00/
mbf for Doug Fir & Western Larch. For White
Fir they are offing $325.00/mbf. At the Pilot
Rock Saw Mill BCC is offing $360.00/mbf for a
12 to 15 inch top, for 16 to 19 inch top $400.00/
mbf & offing $425.00/mbf for 20 inch plus top
Courtesy of Arvid Andersen,
Andersen Forestry Consulting
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sumpter City Council
met on October 11th. Im-
mediately after leading
everyone in the Pledge of
Allegiance, Cary Clarke
handed out blank pieces of
paper for a secret ballot.
Clarke was elected interim
mayor unanimously. Rob-
ert Armbruster and Greg
Lucas each received two
votes for Council Presi-
dent. After further discus-
sion between the two,
they agreed Lucas would
become President.
Security cameras
While reviewing bills to
be paid, Armbruster asked
where the security cameras
were going. They will be
installed on each side of
Volunteer Park.
Fire Department Re-
port
Jim Sheller reported a
fairly quiet month. They
assisted the Powder River
— Weekly Hay Report —
— Precious Metals Report —
Price per ounce, USD
Gold: $1,256.20
Silver: $17.56
Platinum: $943.43
Palladium: $649.05
Bloomberg.com
— Ag Commodities —
Meghan Andersch / The Baker County Press
L-R: Samantha Rowan, Cary Clarke, Robert Armbruster, and Greg Lucas.
department in setting up
a Life Flight. There was
medical call out in Sumpt-
er’s area. Dispatch sent
Powder River. Both units
responded.
Sheller reminded every-
one that Sumpter is under
ODF rules are far as burn-
ing. Only burn barrel and
recreation fires are allowed
until ODF gives the okay
for ground burning.
The Department is still
doing heavy training every
first and third Tuesday.
If anyone wants to join,
Sheller said they welcome
hands at any time.
SEE SUMPTER
PAGE 7
Corn: $337.05/bu/USD
Wheat: $396.75/bu/USD
Soybeans: $945.50/bu/USD
Oats: $198.00 bu/USD
Rough Rice: $10.18/cwt/USD
Canola: $474.50 CAD/mwt
Live Cattle: $98.00/lb./USD
Feeder Cattle: $117.78/lb./USD
Lean Hogs: $44.05/lb./USD
Bloomberg.com