Rec Center update

[from Jackie Stanley, DPR Capital Projects Coordinator]

This is a follow-up to the update provided to the community at the July 11 ANC meeting related to the Petworth Project.

Bids have been solicited on behalf of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for construction contractors to build the Petworth playground/spray park. The bids were initially due back to the Office of Contracts and Procurement (OCP) on August 2nd. However, because of the detailed scope of services for this project, a request from the contractors was sent to OCP for an extension.

As a result, an extension has been granted to allow the contractors additional time to provide an accurate cost proposal so as not to delay the process any further. The new bid submissions are due on August 11th which will affect the start date provided at the ANC meeting, but we are still well within the timeline to complete the project by the December 31st deadline. Once the contract has been awarded DPR will be able to provide more detailed information about the actual start date.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this update. If you have any additional questions or concerns feel free to contact me.

Jackie Stanley
DPR Capital Projects Coordinator
202-576-7356 (office)
202- 541-9279 (fax)

Comments

[Marni]

I just spoke with Sharon Dendy at Parks and Rec. Construction of the new playgrounds are supposed to begin mid-september. There will be a 6-12 playground on the Taylor St. side, a seperate toddler 2-5 playground at the back of the site, and the splash park will be entirely redone ( I didn't even know there was an existing splashpark!). The grass area will be leveled so it can be better utilized. There will be another meeting, either ANC or at the rec center, in mid-september.

I'm thrilled about this...and wanted to share the news with anyone who didn't know and/or didn't know the details.

YEAH!

[John McLarty]

UPDATE - PETWORTH RECREATION CENTER RENOVATION

Just for fun I contacted the DC Office of Contracts and Procurement and rather quickly (go figure) I was able to locate an individual who has some degree of responsibility for and a good degree of familiarity with the Petworth Recreation Center project. Since it was my first dealing with him and I like to give the benefit of the doubt, he will remain unnamed in this e-mail. When I mentioned the project, his first reaction was to say of the project that "they broke ground and then it was thrown over the fence". When I questioned what he meant by that, he retracted it. Then he informed me that a vendor/contractor had already been selected for the work, not based on a public bidding of this project, but based on previous work. He continued to say that as of this week he only has "90% of the definitive specs" and as of yesterday, the specifications were still in "FLUX".

Someone needs to inform the department of Parks and Recreation that the Office of Contracts and Procurement has not and does not plan to put this project out for public bidding. A vendor has already been selected so they better come up with a new one in response to community inquiries. While you're at it, ask them to send over the complete specifications to OCP, it would be a huge help.

[John McLarty]

As a purchasing agent, I am familiar with the bidding process. It is the role of the city, in this case those representing Parks and Recreations, to set a deadline for bids and enforce the deadline. Think about it, how complicated is the work that is being done, this isn't avant garde architecture or the pyramids of Egypt, it is a playground with equipment, surfaces, shrubs, some fencing and a sprinkler. Qualified vendors and contractors who are vying for a piece of business will meet those deadlines because their livelihoods are contingent on being awarded jobs. Ms. Stanley's story, like all of the stories and excuses that have come before, wreaks of implausibility. What DPR has apparently mastered is the art of language in the form of the verbal tap-dance routine to make excuses for their ineptitude and lack of effectiveness. Imagine if they took as rigorous an approach to actually getting things done. If the work isn't started before the Sept. 17th Anniversary of the ground breaking, I propose that we organize a meeting at the Rec. Center with media in tow and walk as a group to the DPR building on 16th Street and press a friendly call on Flowers, Stanley and their cohorts. Any interest?

[Tim]

"...but we are still well within the timeline to complete the project by the December 31st deadline."
Sure, sure you are. OK, I propose a friendly Petworth Playground Betting Pool. Everyone pick a date and see who gets closer to the actual completion date for the Petworth Rec. Center. I wager, hmmm, how about June 30, 2007? I figure you should always add 6 months to any DC construction project. Of course, with this being an election year and everyone trying so hard to "Be Your New Mayor!", it might happen sooner. But i'll stick with June 30, 2007. Takers?

[Bill]

In an email to me, Ms. Stanley added:

You are correct, detailed design plans for the playground were presented and approved by the community. The project has experienced delays but is on scheduled to begin very soon. We are not starting from scratch.

The contractor that's currently on board for this project is an architect. The architect worked very closely with DPR and the community to design the playground. The bids that are being solicited by OCP are for a construction company who will be responsible for the actual building and installation of the playground/spray park.