OOCEA to open PBS&J consulting work to competition

OOCEA CEO Mike Snyder, right

CEO Mike Snyder is proposing competitive bids next year for engineering consulting services at the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority that are presently provided by PBS&J on an open-ended basis. Billings by PBS&J have been about $9m/year.

Snyder says no way is he unhappy with the PBS&J performance and they may well win the rebid, but it's "the right thing to do."

OOCEA is under some political pressure to open up following revelations of secret payments of $107k to anti-toll activist Doug Guetzloe. The bribes came to light during a criminal investigation. Guetzloe was recently sentenced to 60 days jail for anonymous pamphleteering in contravention of the election laws on behalf of developer Allan Keen who has been chairman of the board of OOCEA. (Keen is stepping down in the wake of the bribery affair.)

The county comptroller Martha Haynie recommended more competition in procurement of services at OOCEA last December.

Also to be competed next year are contracts for land acquisition and other legal services.

OOCEA is also in the market for PR services. OOCEA's Snyder fired public relations consultant Ron Pecora whose firm was used to launder the bribe payments to Guetzloe. Pecora said the payments were made against his recommendation and that Snyder said they were on the orders of Allan Keen, chairman of the board. Pecora said Guetzloe delivered no substantial work product that he knew of to OOCEA.

PBS&J has had its own legal problems from an overbilling scam operated by its former chief financial officer and two accomplices.

TOLLROADSnews 2006-11-21