SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

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PROBLEM:  The growing monopoly of government contracts has reduced opportunities for competing contractors.  This monopoly has closed the door on non-short list government contractors which caused 98 percent of contractors severe economic harm begining in year 2003. By 2009 more than 40% of Oregon contractors either closed their doors or reduced staff to a "mom-and-pop shop" as a result of not being able to particpate any longer in government work and the lack of bank financing for private industry work. 

 

• By 2005 out of 100% of all governent construction contracts, only half were available to non-short list contractors. 

• By 2009 less than 5% of all government contracts were available to bid for non-short list contractors, during a time when private industry projects had been defunded by banks.

• In 2009 certain upcoming (1-3 years out) major government construction projects were written into the legislature as being given to, and reserved for, particular short-list contractors without a bid price.  This was at a time when 98% of other government general contractors and their subcontractors desparately needed that same work contract.

• Associated Builders and Contractors  reported to their boardmembers their number one reason for non-renewal of 40% of memberships from 2009 was lack of new work contracts.   

 

To challenge the work shortages, and to fight back for her employer Robert Gray Partners, Inc., Laura Alexander traveled to Washington D.C. in 2005, to meet with all 50 Senators and House Representatives to discuss the issue of government contract monopolies and the economic repercussions. 

 

From 2005 through 2011 Laura Alexander planned and executed a grassroots campaign to educate citizens and special interest groups on the pros and cons of the current condition of government contract monopolies. Through public speeches and the use of targeted social media Laura gained recognition.

 

In 2009 Laura Alexander rented a conference room at the Oregon State Capital and invited all of Oregon's Legislature for her presentation on the Review of Public Contracts.  During her presentation on the Review of Public Contracts, Senator Witsett agreed to sponsor her proposed Senate Bill.  The Senate Bill 581 was presented in February of 2011 in a Oregon legislative meeting.

 

Laura Alexander's employer Robert Gray Partners, Inc., was severely harmed by the monopoly of governement contracts.  They were amongst the 40% of construction related businesses which fought to stay afloat in Oregon despite the Legislative Assemblies decisions to make all tax payer afforded construction projects unavailable to the non-short list contractors. 

 

What this means to tax payers:

• The short list consists of the highest paid contractors in Oregon, which are not required to substantiate their price garnered before or after construction completion. 

 

• Tax payers pay sometimes two times the amount or more than they should have to pay for the same project. The money for these projects come from real estate taxes and fines and fees set by the jurisdiction.

 

• The "savings report" provided at the end of the project is not based on comparative costs.  It is based on whether the contractor sold the project a lesser good such as carpet.  A true savings report would reflect two things: a total cost comparison based on the entire project being bid out by several non-short list and short list contractors, and the winning contractor's original contractor bid compared to end cost of project. 

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United States Senate & House of Representatives

Met with all 50 Senators, discussing the monopoly of public contracts and their effects on contractors.

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Oregon State capitol – Public Construction Contracting Review May 2010Half-day Conference, presenting the monopoly of public capital construction contracts and its effects on existing qualified small and medium contractors $30M-.  Presented by Laura Alexander

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Oregon State Senate Committee—Salem, OregonSenate Bill 2011-581 Relating to reviewing exemptions from competitive bidding requirements in public contracting; declaring an emergency. Creates Alternative Contracting Review Board and prescribes board membership, duties and functions.  http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB581/

 

​Senate Bill 2011-772

Relating to audits of public contracts; appropriating money; declaring an emergency.Requires contracting agency to pay fee to Secretary of State in amount of one-tenth of one percent of contract price for public improvement contracts.  http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/SB772/

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Oregon State House of Representatives—Salem, Oregon

House Bill 2011-3000  Authorizes contracting agency, when procuring goods or services for public use, to give preference to goods that are fabricated or processed, or services that are performed, entirely within Oregon if cost of goods or services is not more than specified amount. http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/HB3000/

 

​House Bill 2011-3412 

Prohibits contracting agency from using alternative contracting method to award public improvement contract in which single contractor provides services as construction manager and general contractor unless value of contract is $5 million or more.http://gov.oregonlive.com/bill/2011/HB3412/