Remarks by Danielle Cohen Higgins
389 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 10 of 16
- Play at 4:21:25
“Yeah. Yeah, but what was it that we paid for them?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:21:33
“So here's the point. Yeah, it's to make the point of when we have such a strained general fund, which all of this comes out of. And we, as a body, continuously repeat the need for us to find savings anywhere and anywhere that we can. For us to be presented with an item that originally asks us to pay $8,500 per radio, and you all are able to reduce it rather substantially, although I think $6,500 per radio seems very high, but that's not my expertise and not my I'm trying to understand if we agree to 6,500 per radio for corrections, why did we pay a higher amount, right? If it's the same radio…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:22:59
“Okay, and corrections. understand because at the committee hearing you all approached and said we need these radios i asked you know why are you last in line to get these when this item having this 165 million dollar allocation was back in 2022 you all gave an explanation for that now it's my understanding you're getting i guess somewhat slightly different radios but is the different radio that's being proposed for you and your officers is that something that's agreeable to you under this proposed amendment for a reduction in cost of 5.2 million dollars”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:23:35
“Okay, thank you. Nothing further, Mr. Chair.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:31:46
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the administration, back in 2022, when this contract was awarded, it was a delegate, not a delegated authority. What was it? What was Resolution 682-22? It was a direct purchase, a competitive bid waiver, if you can just remind me. yes commissioner um it was a like a bid waiver at that time in 2022 that was adopted by the board yeah and it was a bid waiver in the amount of 165 million dollars an original five-year term with a five-year otr right that is correct of the 165 million 83 call it 84 million was drawn down um we're going to draw down an additional dollar…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:33:10
“We've used all $165 million of this company.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:35:31
“Thank you, Chief. And let me just be clear on where I'm going with this. And again, I'm not trying to be anything other than clear. The original allocation was for $165 million. On page two of the item that's before us, it says... The resolution established this amount in 165M dollars in 2022 of this amount. 83.9M was for subsequently the contract was modified under delegated authority for a total of 10.6M dollars. And now corrections is asking for. $17 million in change. What I'm trying to understand is that doesn't show a difference of just $3 million. That shows a much larger amount that…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:37:14
“Okay, so is it the position of the administration that, are you saying that there's only $3 million left on this $165 million ten year contract and we're in year four? This passed in 2022, it's 2026. It had cumulative value of 165 million. We're four years in a ten year contract, and you're saying we only have $3 million left? In unallocated funds?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:37:45
“Right. What's the balance on the 165 million that is not allocated?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:38:43
“Okay, the reason I'm asking is because, I think that, and I'll work with you all off of the microphone on this. I want to pass this item today so that our corrections department can get the radios that they need. But whatever is not allocated in this $165 million through this exercise, what it has made clear to me is that there is room for savings, okay? There's room for savings. And as we move forward through this $165 million allocation for radios in Miami-Dade County, I want us to consider utilizing other companies for the balance of the unallocated amount that I believe to be far in…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 4:39:23
“Okay, so good. We're on the same page with that. And so I don't know if I need to bring an item or what I need to do in that regard. But to the eye and to the end of saving dollars, our law enforcement is set, our firefighters are set, our corrections is set. I think everybody would agree they need the radios that they say they need in order to do their job. The rest of our county departments, however, I cannot see us justified in spending $8,000 and $6,000 per radio. And so I am going to be working with you all. to make sure that we are engaging other companies that are offering us a lower…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:10:52
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. When this item was presented to us at Policy Council, the number one ranked bidder under the procurement scoring process was bumped. Because we were advised that there was a significant savings and our body can't stress enough how much we're going to advocate for savings. And so it advanced out of committee, and if anybody watched or if you recall from that committee, there were questions that I had, but they were not able to be answered because there wasn't anyone to answer it at the time. And I understand why I spoke with the director after, and there was a very, very…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:12:51
“Okay, so let's stop right there. The 800 differential was where? Who had the $800?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:13:10
“Based on that. Thompson's price as submitted during the bid process was $800,000 lower.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:13:29
“Okay, Thompson was $800,000 lower. But if Thompson was $800,000 lower, why did Thompson receive a price score by the selection committee that is 10 points lower than Tetra Tech? Tetra Tech got an... Why is that?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:14:07
“Oh, I understand. I see that now. Okay. That makes better sense. Okay. So Thompson got the higher score on pricing than Tetra Tech, but didn't overall get the higher score. I understand. And I apologize for making this more confusing than it needs to be, but I'd really like to understand the difference in the scoring. What was the percentage of the score? I guess it was 100 for pricing, 400 for technical. Explain to me the overtime issue, because I understand that there is an issue with overtime that I need to understand.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:14:55
“Okay, but help me understand, because we've been here before, right? In fact, we're here now on another RFP where we have advocated for strict reading of the RFP language as it's put out. And so this RFP said no overtime, to be considered in this bid. I understand that I'm paraphrasing. I don't have it directly in front of me. But you've said it a couple of times now on the microphone, and I just want to be clear on what the RFP language said specifically regarding overtime. Either you or someone, can they read it to me?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:15:43
“And while you're looking for it, this is the kind of stuff that puzzles me, because it's in the fair collection procurement, right? In fair collection procurement during committee hearing last week, we were told that it's the opinion of the attorneys that we have to strictly comply with the language of the RFP that is written, whether it's pursuant to a past policy of this board or not. Here, we have a representation from the administration on a different solicitation, That there is strict black and white language in an RFP that says no overtime, yet we have a bidder that has bid an amount…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:17:43
“Correct. Okay. The way that the scoring and the recommendation is currently before the board recommending Tetra Tech, or was this item amended in policy council? Wasn't it amended in policy council?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:18:03
“And the amendment reflected to give the contract to Thompson number two?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:18:23
“Okay, and so my question is a simple one regarding overtime, the way that the bid has been written and what's currently before the administration as a proposal. Is it possible that Thompson charges overtime under what was submitted? Is it possible that we get charged overtime? I know there was an asterisk, and I have the asterisk in front of me, although I don't have the language of the RFP. Is it possible that we as a county get charged overtime by Thompson if Thompson is awarded this contract?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:19:13
“I understand. So Thompson, under the terms of the RFP, cannot negotiate a contract that allows them to charge overtime to Miami-Dade County. Is that correct?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:19:32
“I see you approaching. I didn't ask you to approach. I am trying to get my head wrapped around the technical variances of this issue. I would like, no, you can approach. I didn't mean for you. I didn't mean to indicate for you to sit down. And through the chair, if it's okay, if I can ask a representative on behalf of Tetra Tech a few questions. Because here's the thing. I respect that they've been with the county for a while. I respect that they helped us through Hurricane Irma and the Surfside building collapse. And that they've been successful in obtaining FEMA funds on behalf of…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:21:21
“I'm going to put a pin in that because I don't disagree with you. I don't disagree with you, especially when we have another RFP where we're advocating as a county and an administration to follow the black and white ink of the RFP. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I don't disagree with you, which is why I asked the question for someone to read to me that very critical language in the RFP that stated only flat rate hourly submissions would be considered because I need to know what that language states.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 5:21:51
“The director has referred to it, the representative on behalf of Tetra Tech has referred to it. What is the language in the RFP state that all of the bidders read prior to submitting proposals on this RFP?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026