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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0205.000 1996-1998 RECEIVED Michael DuBois n_.;; /•'D~a~ gy ~ • ~ P.O. Box 2813 D"lo Fri.. a 1Q97 Kamuela, HI 96743 it Caumy d (808)885-4094 February 18, 1997 Mr. Harry Takahashi Department of Finance 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 RE: RFP 5-3317 (Contract No. 96-124) Green Waste Pilot Composting Project Protest RE: Protest to Consultant Services Contract No. 97124 as it originated from RFP 5-3317 Deaz Mr. Takahashi, Your letter of February 13, 1997 states that if I (Michael DuBois) were a "party" to any of the three proposals submitted for RFP 5-3317 then you would reconsider my (Mr. DuBois') standing and protest. It is surprising that Mr. Capellas didn't notify you that I (Mr. DuBois) was a co-author of the Keep Hawaii Beautiful proposal. But then maybe it's not so surprising. After Mr. Capellas read the Keep Hawaii Beautiful (KHB) proposal, he somehow came up with the impression that the KHB was only concerned with litter pickup. He obviously didn't read the proposal. Sonja Okano, Executive Coordinator for Keep Hawaii Beautiful is upset about the awazd fund for the pilot compost project, as are several local recycling businesses. vr'itirlii tlid Kiu"'i RF'P proposal ii loads: "-Work with the public on the recycling problem(s) to be solved. - Involve organizations and businesses in designing an acceptable recovery program. - Institute a program that fits their needs. -Motivate people to take action." Further, the proposal states, "Coordinate residential and commercial compost programs." It is also pointed out in the proposal how KHB will: - Utilize local recycling businesses to develop comprehensive full-line recycling collection programs for schools, businesses, communities, and organizations. z o5 HII. xa. R E F ~ ~ 0 1997 IM[. IiirY~~~---- - Metals, ferrous &non-ferrous, paper, newspaper, cazdboazd, office/school high-grade paper, glass containers, plastic bottles, crankcase oil, hazardous waste, compost, commercial and residential. - Inform the public of drop-off facilities and services. - Island wide "Roving" recycling collection days. - Provide collection containers and service for activities of "Recycling Partners". I{HB presented "composting" education and was ready to work with local communities to develop "composting". KHB presented its proposal as advertised by the DPW, "RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM" for the general public. The SWD, for some unknown reason, after the RFP deadline of July 30, 1996 needed, according to Mr. Capellas, "information on techniques and problems on handling the green waste", as well as "to develop a track record for the "handling" of compost, to deliver a product should the SWD need a similar program, to find out the problems associated with developing compost, and to obtain marketing information". If the County needed specific information on composting, then the County should first of all contact businesses that can service the County's needs and relay the County's needs to the general public openly and fairly. The County never contacted ICIIB to discuss its intention to work with the local community to develop composting, yet it was in their bid. KHB was prepazed to work with businesses involved in composting to develop diversion. The County, however, created a new business and funneled large sums of money to this new business to unfairly compete with already in-place composting businesses. Recycle Hawaii discusses the pilot composting project I am protesting in their February'97 Ka'tr Lett~iug article. The article states, "The County of Hawaii has contracted Renew Hawaii to collect data on input, output and decomposition of the green material". This is a project for information. Community backyard composting is presented to the public by Recycle Hawaii, anon-profit organization funded by the DPW. In other words, compost education is already paid for by the taxpayers. In fact, the phone number in the article for compost education is that of Recycle Hawaii, not Renew Hawaii. The true intent of the pilot compost project is to "collect data on input, output and decomposition of the green material" - not education. This is my point. If the SWD wanted to develop a compost project, why didn't the DPW SWD simply advertise for this specific service? And why isn't the SWD more aware of the current Island industry actively composting and diverting greenwaste and inviting them to participate in an islandwide effort so that each participant would receive a diversion fee. no just the DPW SWD's cnecial interest participants The DPW SWD doesn't need more studies. They need islandwide development based on the previous studies and current ongoing private programs. Again, the County has misled the perspective bidders in order to develop specific projects for certain privileged individuals. The County is using taxpayers' money to create and develop private businesses, instituting unfair competitive advantages. First the glass recycling monopoly and now composting, both disguised in RFP's. The County must review its funding policy so that it does not unfairly build up one private business over another, or one non-profit organization over another, by giving them lots of money. So, Mr. Takahashi, I hope this provides the necessary information you need to show you that I am a "party" to the 1tFP, and to reconsider my protest and, of course, my standing in the community. However, I am still puzzled as to why you did not answer my specific protest points in your denial letter. I cannot understand how you would reject my protest based on standing, when for the last year and a half I have been standing in the way of these unfair funding practices. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable explaining your reasoning to a group of people. I would like to invite you to attend a public meeting in Kona to explain your decisions to support the DPW SWD compost recycling development and the funding policy. i will tali the Kona County Administration office to set up an appointment at that office. Not only do I look forward to the Department of Finance Director attending, but I would also like to invite Ms. Donna Kiyosaki and Mr. Larry Capellas to meet with people involved in the business of recycling as well as people concerned about the development of the County of Hawaii's solid waste p~gram. Following are some of the questions to be addressed: * Is a committee necessary in order to receive and review and select an RFP proposal from prospective bidders? * Is there only one person necessary to receive and review and select an RFP proposals from prospective bidders? * Are 1tFP's capable of being dramatically altered after they have been advertised for? * Who in the Department of Public Works has the capability to dramatically change the specific focus of an advertised RFP? * Why isn't the Director of Finance interested and concerned to find out why so many business people are protesting and objecting to the way the County of Hawaii DPW awards funds for recycling programs? * Why didn't the DPW SWD make the 12FP intentions clear enough so businesses in the compost industry could have an opportunity to bid? * Why are certain businesses being given large sums of money by the County to build up their businesses, creating an unfair advantage over all other existing businesses? * Why is it that the Director of Finance has 13 days to reply to my protest and I have only 5 days to reply back? This seems unfair. Mr. Takahashi, you are aware of the problems occurring, and now is an opportunity to meet and discuss the multitude of problems surrounding the pilot compost project and the funding policy. Now is the time to invite concerned people to your Kona office. Sincerely, c7 ~''1~6 Mic)t"ael DuBois cc: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Councilman Dominic Yagong, Public Works Committee Chairperson Councilman John Ray Councilman Curtis Tyler Representative Dave Tarnis, 6th District Keep Hawaii Beautiful Executive Coordinator, Sonja Okano Keep Hawaii Beautiful Boazd of Director, Juliette Tulang Mauna Lani Compost Project Coordinator, Norman Ah Hee Soil Plus, Mazk Jernigan Aloha Soil Mix, Eugene & Veronika Dudoit Big Island Recycling & Refuse, Rick Walton Environmental Recycling, Michael Allen Mr. Rubbishman, Mike Christensen, Jr. PFI Rubbish & Recycling, Bob Platt Recycle Hawaii, Laurel Dekker