Huh? Someone Should Have to Answer for This

[KathyInAR]

Who do these people know? I understand the need for a non-competitive contract
because of the urgency of this issue; however, this on it's face makes no sense at all? Is someone being paid back for a favor(s)? Are they a relative or friend of someone? Who thought giving a small 2-person company a contract for such a monumental job was a good idea?

https://www.aol.com/article/news/201...airs/23255610/

Does this answer my questions?

...

According to the Washington Post, Whitefish Energy’s chief executive, Andy Techmanski, has links to Trump’s secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke. The firm is based in Zinke’s hometown, and one of Zinke’s sons previously worked at one of Techmanski’s construction sites. Both the secretary’s office and Whitefish deny Zinke played any role in the firm’s Puerto Rico contract. Zinke’s office told the Post that Whitefish is based in a small town where “everybody knows everybody.” Whitefish also said it is up to the task of repairing the power grid and that, as of Monday, it had 280 workers in Puerto Rico.
...

[sundealer]

Seems it's done all the time.

Michelle Obama and CGI Federal

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/12/michelle-obama-and-cgi-federal/

[KathyInAR]

Seems it's done all the time.

Michelle Obama and CGI Federal

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/12/mic...d-cgi-federal/

That was not a non-competitive bid contract. I recognize the need for non-competitive contracts being let in emergency circumstances; however, a small company being given a non-competitive contract for what is a monumental undertaking doesn't sound reasonable to me. The entire island was without electricity and today, a month after the hurricane hit the island almost 80% of the island is still without electricity. The company in question say they now have 280 people on the island at work...

Florida saw 17,000 utility workers in Florida during/after Hurricane Irma. It doesn't appear that 280 utility workers are anywhere near what is needed for the effort required to restore power to Puerto Rico--it is less than 2% of the number of utility workers that responded to the power crisis in Florida after Irma. Does 280 utility workers seem reasonable to anyone???

But, of course, Puerto Rico is just an American territory occupied primarily by a bunch of Hispanics, not deserving of the same consideration as the rest of the predominately White Christian population on the mainland.

And what pray tell does any of this have to do with a competitive, expedited bidding process for a company to develop a website? And what does the fact that someone in a management position with the company winning the contract is the same race as the First Lady and they both were part of the 5,000+ student body at the same university have to do with the subject issue? If you wanted to show that it was "common place" to use non-competitive contracts, why didn't you use all the Haliburton and Kellogg Brown & Root non-competitive contracts let during the Afghanistan and Iraq war that were worth tens of billions of dollars?

[Fastcar]

To be real honest here. I've seen it done numerous times. A couple of guys get some backing, show on paper the can provide the workforce and expertise to do the job and bingo they are in business. Doesn't seem right but it is what it is.

[Fastcar]

.

And what pray tell does any of this have to do with a competitive, expedited bidding process for a company to develop a website? And what does the fact that someone in a management position with the company winning the contract is the same race as the First Lady and they both were part of the 5,000+ student body at the same university have to do with the subject issue? If you wanted to show that it was "common place" to use non-competitive contracts, why didn't you use all the Haliburton and Kellogg Brown & Root non-competitive contracts let during the Afghanistan and Iraq war that were worth tens of billions of dollars?

To veer off a bunch. Was reading an article that the helicopter's that pulled the guy's out on the shit in Niger were NOT the Nightstalkers (as it should have been) but were some subcontractor who didn't count the WIA's and the KIA's so the missing one was not noticed until 40 hours later. Experience really matters when the shit hit's the fan. Our troops deserve the best, not some second string outfit.

Wonder if that PMC who supplied the helicopters was owned by Betsy DeVos's friggin' brother. I'd like to see that onion peeled.

[KathyInAR]

To be real honest here. I've seen it done numerous times. A couple of guys get some backing, show on paper the can provide the workforce and expertise to do the job and bingo they are in business. Doesn't seem right but it is what it is.

There are certainly times when a non-competitive contract is necessary and this certain is one of those times.

The below quote shows the problem; not that it was non-competitive. A knowledgeable contracting official would have known that this company likely could not meet the demands necessary unless the "scope of work" was written so poorly that it didn't indicate what would be required or to reach this company.

...

According to the Washington Post, Whitefish Energy’s chief executive, Andy Techmanski, has links to Trump’s secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke. The firm is based in Zinke’s hometown, and one of Zinke’s sons previously worked at one of Techmanski’s construction sites. Both the secretary’s office and Whitefish deny Zinke played any role in the firm’s Puerto Rico contract. Zinke’s office told the Post that Whitefish is based in a small town where “everybody knows everybody.” Whitefish also said it is up to the task of repairing the power grid and that, as of Monday, it had 280 workers in Puerto Rico.
...

Saying that they are "up to the task of repairing the power grid"...was a time period specified. Taking 5 years to do so, is that acceptable? What did the contract specify?

[KathyInAR]

To veer off a bunch. Was reading an article that the helicopter's that pulled the guy's out on the shit in Niger were NOT the Nightstalkers (as it should have been) but were some subcontractor who didn't count the WIA's and the KIA's so the missing one was not noticed until 40 hours later. Experience really matters when the shit hit's the fan. Our troops deserve the best, not some second string outfit.

Wonder if that PMC who supplied the helicopters was owned by Betsy DeVos's friggin' brother. I'd like to see that onion peeled.

Me too!

[limner43]

Seems it's done all the time.

Michelle Obama and CGI Federal

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/12/mic...d-cgi-federal/

If you actually read the article you posted, you would realize that no link exists between the Obamas and CGI. No provable link. None. Remember...reading is fundamental. It's a valuable skill in a time when lies and innuendo abound.

[KathyInAR]

This is all really very weird to say the least.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/10/29/puerto-rico-governor-calls-for-cancellation-of-whitefish-contract/23259905/

Puerto Rico governor calls for cancellation of Whitefish contract


GINGER GIBSON
Oct 29th 2017 2:19PM

WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló called for an immediate cancellation of a tiny Montana firm's $300 million contract to restore power to the storm-hit U.S. territory, his office confirmed on Sunday.

“Following the information that has emerged, and with the goal of protecting public interest, as governor I am asking government and energy authorities to immediately activate the clause to cancel the contract to Whitefish Energy,” Rosselló said in a statement to reporters.

The contract with Puerto Rico’s power utility has come under increased criticism after it was revealed that the terms were obtained without a competitive public bidding process.

Criticism increased, including from U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, after a copy of the contract surfaced online on Thursday night and raised more questions, particularly over language blocking oversight of costs and profits.

Whitefish Energy Holdings officials have insisted that they secured the deal legitimately and would not oppose an audit of the company's work. A Whitefish spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Several weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September, about 75 percent of homes and businesses still lack electricity. Rosselló said he hoped that 30 percent of power would be restored to the island by the end of October.

He said he had reached out to Florida Governor Rick Scott and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to seek help in replacing Whitefish and that they were prepared to assist in restoring power.

"I have given instructions to immediately proceed with the necessary coordination with the states of Florida and New York, in order for brigades and equipment to arrive on the island," Rosselló's statement said.

Rosselló said he had requested an investigation into how the contract between the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and 2-year-old Whitefish, which has just two full-time employees, was decided so quickly.

The contract and the slow restoration of power on the island have raised questions about the management of PREPA’s response to Maria.

It took more than a week after Maria hit the island for PREPA to complete a damage assessment.

Puerto Rico’s financial oversight board earlier this week said it would appoint an emergency manager to oversee PREPA, but Rosselló resisted that idea.

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski, David Gaffen, Jessica Resnick-Ault and Nick Brown; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)