"The current arrangement has now persisted for over a year, and in total the company has been paid over $30 million since it first signed with Oakland in 2018, including several contract extensions and pay increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a reflection of the city's struggles to leave behind the remnants of last year's corruption scandal, laying bare the messy politics around city contracts and the millions of public dollars given to private vendors that win them."
"On two occasions in recent months, the Oakland City Council has had the opportunity to leave ABC behind and award the contract to Allied Universal, the world's largest private security provider. Both times, it has stopped short. Elected leaders have openly advocated for an immigrant-owned local business, Marina Security Services, to receive the contract instead despite Marina finishing behind Allied in the city's bidding process."
Oakland has repeatedly failed to finalize a three-year, $27 million security contract replacement, leaving ABC Security on month-to-month extensions. The incumbent has received over $30 million since 2018 after extensions and pandemic pay increases. Attempts to award the contract to Allied Universal stalled amid elected officials’ advocacy for local, immigrant-owned Marina Security Services despite Marina finishing behind Allied in bidding. City staff and council apply different procurement criteria, producing contradictory decisions. Preparing a new contract may take three months or longer. The situation exposes lingering effects of last year’s corruption scandal and contentious politics around public contracting.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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