There has been plans to widen Queen Kaahumanu highway between Kona Int'l Airport and Kealakehe Parkway. However due to bid award protests by the losing bidders the project
remains in limbo.
.
This is a e-mail I sent to Sen. Kalani English, the Chairman of the Senate Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, about
this debacle :
“Aloha Sen. English,
I would like to bring to your attention about the current bid award debacle involving Phase II of the Queen Kaahumanu highway widening (between Kealakehe Parkway and Kona Int’l Airport).This much needed roadway improvement is currently in limbo. The reason why is because the losing bidders have protested the two times that the project was awarded to Goodfellow Brothers.
Three contractors have bid on this project (Kiewit Pacific Company, HDCC,and Maui based Goodfellow Brothers). During the first bidding process Kiewit and HDCC protested the bid award to Goodfellow. This resulted in a four month delay when the three bidders submitted their best and final offers.
Goodfellow Brothers again was awarded the contract to widen Queen Kaahumanu last December. However HDCC again protested this bid award. The HDOT brought in the DCCA Office of Administrative Hearings to adjudicate this protest in February 2009.
The OAH issued an unfavorable ruling in favor of HDCC on April 3rd, 2009.In response to this decision the HDOT terminated all three bids, and appealed the OAH decision to the First Circuit Court on Oahu. The HDOT’s thinking here is to cover all the bases. If the court overturns the OAH ruling the bid award to Goodfellow is sustained. But if the court rules against the HDOT, the new bidding process will allow the project to move forward also.
However HDCC may have thrown a monkey wrench into the HDOT’s plans. It is my understanding HDCC has filed a formal protest in regards to the HDOT’s decision to terminate their bid.
Thus in a nutshell, I urge you as Chairman of the Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs committee to look into this matter. It deeply concerns me that in this case the HDOT can’t correctly solicit and award a highway construction contract.
Sincerely,
Aaron Stene”
remains in limbo.
.
This is a e-mail I sent to Sen. Kalani English, the Chairman of the Senate Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs committee, about
this debacle :
“Aloha Sen. English,
I would like to bring to your attention about the current bid award debacle involving Phase II of the Queen Kaahumanu highway widening (between Kealakehe Parkway and Kona Int’l Airport).This much needed roadway improvement is currently in limbo. The reason why is because the losing bidders have protested the two times that the project was awarded to Goodfellow Brothers.
Three contractors have bid on this project (Kiewit Pacific Company, HDCC,and Maui based Goodfellow Brothers). During the first bidding process Kiewit and HDCC protested the bid award to Goodfellow. This resulted in a four month delay when the three bidders submitted their best and final offers.
Goodfellow Brothers again was awarded the contract to widen Queen Kaahumanu last December. However HDCC again protested this bid award. The HDOT brought in the DCCA Office of Administrative Hearings to adjudicate this protest in February 2009.
The OAH issued an unfavorable ruling in favor of HDCC on April 3rd, 2009.In response to this decision the HDOT terminated all three bids, and appealed the OAH decision to the First Circuit Court on Oahu. The HDOT’s thinking here is to cover all the bases. If the court overturns the OAH ruling the bid award to Goodfellow is sustained. But if the court rules against the HDOT, the new bidding process will allow the project to move forward also.
However HDCC may have thrown a monkey wrench into the HDOT’s plans. It is my understanding HDCC has filed a formal protest in regards to the HDOT’s decision to terminate their bid.
Thus in a nutshell, I urge you as Chairman of the Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs committee to look into this matter. It deeply concerns me that in this case the HDOT can’t correctly solicit and award a highway construction contract.
Sincerely,
Aaron Stene”
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