When BrightView copped the RIOC contract for supplemental landscaping, at least it was part of their core competency. But it didn’t end where it logically should have.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
The Quirky Twist
At a June 18th RIOC board meeting, Communications and Community Relations Director Bryant Daniels stepped up to the podium, requesting approval for 3-year contract amounting to well over $200,000. It covers putting up a relatively small set of December holiday decorations and the Rivercross Lawn Christmas Tree.
Although the deal was peculiar in several ways, it got a unanimous “Yes” vote with barely a question.
While the hard right board contingent – Howard Polivy, David Kraut and Conway Ekpo – can be counted on to sing the state’s chorus on almost anything, the newer, reform-minded members pride themselves in skepticism, especially in matters involving purchasing.
But they were out to lunch on this one. Ben Fhala weakly questioned the need for a contract at all. Why not do it with RIOC’s own staff? Then, he meekly accepted an even weaker answer. The staff, Daniels told him, was too busy with other work.
For the record, the grounds crew has 10 full time personnel, including two supervisors. That’s augmented by BrightView, which as you can see from the photo above, brings in equipment and personnel. The decorations also require some electrical work, but there was no evidence asked or presented about why they couldn’t handle the holiday load.
But then, the quirky twist came up when we learned that the winning contractor, BrightView, is the same group accused of careless practices in the use of pesticides.
What’s so odd…?
The coincidence is enough to force a second, squinting glance at the details, beginning with why Daniels made the recommendation. Where was the procurement department? How do they explain…
- The absence of competitive bidders
- What experience does BrightView have in setting up holiday decorations?
- Where are the specifications that guarantee that $70K every year won’t result in a trashy display as witnessed last year?
The bidders
According to the presentation Daniels gave the board, there was only one other bidder. Of all companies, it was Neave, vendor for the last three years when the their work alone should have disqualified them. BrightView under-bid them, according to RIOC.
Underbidding a flop should raise eyebrows, but more concerning – the board heard nothing about other possible vendors.
A common quirky twist with RIOC is that they almost always leapfrog over New York City vendors and find one in Westchester – like BrightView.
Here are some other vendors we found easily:
- Julia Testa – SOHO and Brooklyn
- John Mini Distinctive Landscapes – Manhattan
- New York Horticulture Group – Manhattan
Were any of them contacted? We don’t know, and importantly, neither does the board.
About BrightView’s experience in setting up holiday decorations?
How about this? They don’t have any, despite winning a virtual no-bid deal worth something approaching a quarter of a million dollars.
Well, okay, to be fair, they once put up a Christmas Tree in Chicago and, get this – a Tropical Winter Wonderland in South Florida.
But that’s it folks. While experienced vendors pop up all over the city, RIOC picks the landscaping experts who once strung lights on palm trees.
The Specifications?
None were presented to the board, and based on the past year’s experience, there effectively aren’t any. Happy holidays ahead!
Finally, the Quirky Twist
We know very little about how this award was conjured, but neither does RIOC’s seldom vigilant board. Coupled with the deeply conservative majority’s stiff resistance to changes in procurement practices, this suggests more of the same ahead.
The tax and spend debacle known as New York State showers Roosevelt Island with its gifts for peculiar spending and lack of transparency. Here at The Daily, we hope they take this as a thank you note.
Emergency Without Urgency
When government invokes the word “emergency,” normal process changes. Timelines accelerate. Environmental review can narrow. Procurement pathways can shift.
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