HomeMy WebLinkAbout20050693.tiff CORRESPONDENCE RESPONSE
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BOARD ACTION: (Initial by Approval) M \RIM BJ DL GV /
Agree with Recommedation ---W. - — ✓
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Department Head Signature
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OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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PHONE: 970-336-7204
FAX: 970-352-0242
915 10TH STREET
lunge P.O. BOX 758
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
February 15, 2005
Milton Ragusa
3739 Peoria Street
Denver CO 80239
Re: 2005 Alignment machine - Bid B050038
Dear Mr. Ragusa:
On behalf of the Weld County Board of Commissioners, I wish to thank you for participating in
our bid process. Upon receipt of your letter of February 5, the board directed staff to provide you
with the reasons why your machine was not selected.
1. The following feedback was obtained from the references provided by you:
• The machine requires frequent calibration.
• The machine was difficult to use.
• The machine has printer problems.
• The closest certified service representative is located in South Dakota, and the
sales staff does routine repairs.
2. Your machine comes with a one-year warranty and a one-year software upgrade. The
machine selected comes with a three-year warranty and a three-year software upgrade.
3. Although not in the specifications, the Hunter machine has a remote reader that is a
standard feature. The heads on the Hunter machine are self-charging, and yours are
not.
4. Your letter stated the bid was predetermined by a Weld County employee. The
person you are referring to is an independent contractor and stated the comment he
made was "He only has experience with a Hunter machine."
Milton Ragusa
February 15, 2005
Page 2
5. As stated in our specifications,paragraph J: "The Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive
any informalities in proposals, and to accept the proposal that, in the opinion of the
Board is to the best interests of the Board and of the County of Weld, State of
Colorado."
The Board of County Commissioners concurs with staffs recommendation and approves the
purchase of the Hunter machine.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
c
William H. Jerke, Chair
cc: Pat Persichino
Frank Hempen
Don Warden
AUTOMOTIVE &TRUCK EQUIPMENT
A Division of Automotive Equipment & Supply, LLC
3739 Peoria St.
Denver, CO 80239
303-373-0377
February 5,2005
Board of County Commissioners
915 Tenth Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Re: 2005 Alignment machine,Bid B050038
Dear Sirs:
This is a formal protest to the awarding of this bid to McGee Company for the Hunter 811
Alignment Equipment. McGee was the high bidder of the three bids and exceeded our low
bid by almost 25%.
I am in receipt of a memo dated January 31,2005 from Jeff Jerome to Pat Persichino
recommending rejection of our low bid of$31,843.50 and accepting the highest bid from
McGee of$39,448.32. The reasons given were poor reference checks and an evaluation of
the equipment has determined that it is not suitable for our intended use on a variety of
equipment or the ability to expand its capabilities without additional costs. I strongly
disagree. This statement is subjective and is not factual. The equipment that I submitted
for bid meets or exceeds your own bid specifications.
The Hofmann equipment that I bid is manufactured by one of the world's largest and most
respected tool and equipment manufacturers; Snap On Tools Inc. I hardly believe that
Snap On has a poor reference.
If the Hofmann is not suitable for the intended use,than I would argue that since it meets
or exceeds the capabilities of the Hunter,than the Hunter is not suitable.
As for the ability to expand its capabilities without additional costs, I would ask,what
expansion was in the bid specs and what equipment is expanded for free.
I would hope that the Board members reconsider their decision and award the bid to Swis
Automotive Equipment as the legal low bidder. I cannot help but think that the bid
outcome was predetermined as a Weld County employee told me months ago that he would
only approve hunter. I don't think the taxpayers would be happy to learn that an
employee's personal preference is so costly.
I await your reply.
Sincerely,
Milton Ragusa
Sales Representative
Swis Automotive& Truck Equipment
V.21_1) :
AUTOMOTIVE &TRUCK EQUIPMENT
A Division of Automotive Equipment& Supply, LLC
3739 Peoria St.
Denver, CO 80239
303-373-0377
February 22, 2005
Mr. William Jerke
915 Tenth Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Re: 2005 Alignment machine, Bid B050038
Dear Mr. Jerke:
Thank you for your recent correspondence dated February 15, 2005 in which you listed several
reasons why the Hofinann Alignment Machine was not selected. However, I am unaware of any
of the problems you listed, especially from the references I had provided.
Are these discussions with the references documented?If so, I would like to review them.
I would like to address your reasons one by one and I'll try to be brief.
Item#1: You stated the machine requires frequent calibration.Not true. The machine only
requires calibration when a head is dropped. This is the same as the hunter machine. The
Hofinann also provides a simple step by step illustrated program that assists the alignment
technician to perform this operation if he chooses. This takes about 10 minutes per pair of heads.
Hunter prefers you to place a service call with their service dept., which may take one to three
days at an additional expense.
You stated the machine is difficult to use. Again not true. The software in the machine is the
easiest to use in the industry and provides all the help a technician may need. He only needs a
basic knowledge of wheel alignment and be able to read in his native language. If the person who
stated this finds the machine difficult, please provide me with his name and I will offer him
additional training at no charge.
"The machine has printer problems": I am not aware of any problems with the printer. The
printer supplied is a name brand inkjet printer, usually a Hewlett Packard. Should you have a
preference, we can supply most brands of inkjet printers.
"The closest certified service representative is located in South Dakota, and sales staff does
routine repairs."I'm sorry, but I had to laugh when I saw this. I'm sure Hofmann does have a
Sincerely,
Milton Ragusa
Sales Representative
Swis Automotive & Truck Equipment
Cc: Pat Persichino
certified service representative in South Dakota, but we also have one in Denver. His name is JR
Cardoza and he has several trained technicians on his staff. Yes, in order to provide our
customers with the speediest service available, the sales staff does perform many routine repairs.
The equipment has been designed to help diagnose problems quickly and easily and repairs are
simple and straightforward. Failures requiring repairs are also rare.
Item #2: "Your machine comes with a one-year warranty and a one-year software upgrade. The
machine selected comes with a three-year warranty and a three-year software upgrade". True,
however,this is not standard on the hunter machine and was also not listed as a requirement in
the bid specs. I will be happy to extend the warranty and the updates for an additional 24 months
for a total of$3,750.00. This still places our bid several thousand dollars below the hunter.
Item#3: "Although not in the specifications, the hunter machine has a remote reader that is a
standard feature. The heads on the hunter machine are self-charging, and yours are not". Again,
the remote reader is not standard on the hunter. Had it been specified in the bid, I would have
added $800.00 to the price and still be several thousand dollars below hunter. (Remote controls
are standard on both machines). The Hofmann comes standard with two complete sets of
batteries. One set in the charger and one set in the heads. Should a battery become discharged
during an alignment, it can be changed in as little as 25 seconds and the alignment can proceed
where it left off with no loss of information. The hunter head would have to be placed back on
the charger and the alignment resumed only after it has charged up.
Item#4: "Your letter stated the bid was predetermined by a Weld County employee. The person
you are referring to is an independent contractor and stated the comment he made was "He only
has experience with a hunter machine". I stand corrected by the fact that he is not an employee of
Weld County, but I will stand by my original statement as to what was said.
Item #5: In reference to the quote from paragraph J: If this is truly the case, why waste
everyone's time putting it out to bid?I truly believed that I could win this award based on the
superior merits of my products and the fact that I priced it as low as possible.
Because I don't believe that the board has gotten accurate information regarding my product, I
respectfully ask that I may be permitted to appear before the board and answer any questions
about our products and service. I would appreciate the opportunity to clear up all the
misconceptions about my product.
Sincerely,
Milton Ragusa
Sales Representative
Swis Automotive & Truck Equipment
Cc: Pat Persichino
tiestc ,
OFFICE OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PHONE: 970-336-7204
FAX: 970-352-0242
I 915 10TH STREET
P.O. BOX 758
C. GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
COLORADO
February 28, 2005
Milton Ragusa
Swis Automotive and Truck Equipment
3739 Peoria Street
Denver CO 80239
Dear Mr. Ragusa:
With reference to your letter of February 22, 2005, regarding our Alignment machine bid, Weld
County Government has reviewed the information you have submitted. There is no further
appeal process, and the Board of County Commissioners has affirmed its decision of February 2,
2005.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
i 17/1„—,
William H. Jerke, Chair
cc: Don Warden
Pat Persichino
Frank Hempen
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