looks like ou has cooked the books on a bid on their stadium. A Kansas company is filing suit that they were the low bidder but the contract was awarded to W&W Steel instead. Looks like some typical favoritism going on and I'm betting W&W is a big donor to ou. Hoping it turns in to a big mess and Gundy sends the bricklayers to encrypt the OSU logo somewhere in that outdated stadium walls. Here is the article...
NORMAN — A bidding war to get a contract to provide steel and concrete panels for the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family—Oklahoma Memorial Stadium expansion project has resulted in a lawsuit.
Despite being the lowest bidder for the project, HME Inc., a Kansas corporation, contends OU and its project construction manager Flintco LLC awarded a contract to W&W Steel, an Oklahoma corporation, in violation of state law.
Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman has set a hearing for 1:30 p.m. Friday on HME’s request for a temporary injunction to halt construction until the matter is settled. HME wants a court declaration that the contract be awarded to it.
HME contends it submitted a base bid of $11,796,450 while competitor W&W’s base bid was $11,880,680.
OU attorneys have filed an answer to the petition in which they say OU did not violate state law and that the university is not liable for any wrongful actions on the part of the other parties.
HME contends Flintco broke the contract into two parts the day after bids were opened, removing erection of concrete panels from the scope of the project and putting them into another bid package, which lowered the bid amount after the fact. HME contends OU then awarded the contract to W&W.
OU and Flintco acknowledge that HME was the initial low bidder for the project, attorneys for HME contend.
“The university simply decided to award the project to W&W, the second-lowest bidder, because of its ‘experience in stadium construction projects’” court papers state.
Having experience with stadium construction projects was not a requirement when the bids were submitted, HME attorneys say. Plaintiff’s attorneys say HME satisfied all the qualifications and quality assurance requirements of the project.
HME is suing the OU Board of Regents who awarded the contract, W&W steel manufacturers and construction manager Flintco Inc.
OU officials have not commented on the lawsuit.
“It would be inappropriate for OU to comment on pending litigation ” said spokeswoman Catherine Bishop.
The stadium renovation plan is a $370 million project that includes a new south end zone complex that would fill in the stadium’s open corners, creating a full bowl, and significant upgrades to team facilities inside the Barry Switzer Center.
A new weight room, equipment room and new coaches offices are among the items included in the master plan, which also calls for demolishing the current press box and constructing a new one; expanding fan concourses and adding dozens of new restrooms and concession stands.
NORMAN — A bidding war to get a contract to provide steel and concrete panels for the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family—Oklahoma Memorial Stadium expansion project has resulted in a lawsuit.
Despite being the lowest bidder for the project, HME Inc., a Kansas corporation, contends OU and its project construction manager Flintco LLC awarded a contract to W&W Steel, an Oklahoma corporation, in violation of state law.
Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman has set a hearing for 1:30 p.m. Friday on HME’s request for a temporary injunction to halt construction until the matter is settled. HME wants a court declaration that the contract be awarded to it.
HME contends it submitted a base bid of $11,796,450 while competitor W&W’s base bid was $11,880,680.
OU attorneys have filed an answer to the petition in which they say OU did not violate state law and that the university is not liable for any wrongful actions on the part of the other parties.
HME contends Flintco broke the contract into two parts the day after bids were opened, removing erection of concrete panels from the scope of the project and putting them into another bid package, which lowered the bid amount after the fact. HME contends OU then awarded the contract to W&W.
OU and Flintco acknowledge that HME was the initial low bidder for the project, attorneys for HME contend.
“The university simply decided to award the project to W&W, the second-lowest bidder, because of its ‘experience in stadium construction projects’” court papers state.
Having experience with stadium construction projects was not a requirement when the bids were submitted, HME attorneys say. Plaintiff’s attorneys say HME satisfied all the qualifications and quality assurance requirements of the project.
HME is suing the OU Board of Regents who awarded the contract, W&W steel manufacturers and construction manager Flintco Inc.
OU officials have not commented on the lawsuit.
“It would be inappropriate for OU to comment on pending litigation ” said spokeswoman Catherine Bishop.
The stadium renovation plan is a $370 million project that includes a new south end zone complex that would fill in the stadium’s open corners, creating a full bowl, and significant upgrades to team facilities inside the Barry Switzer Center.
A new weight room, equipment room and new coaches offices are among the items included in the master plan, which also calls for demolishing the current press box and constructing a new one; expanding fan concourses and adding dozens of new restrooms and concession stands.
