Remarks by Danielle Cohen Higgins
389 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 16 of 16
“Anything further, Commissioner Hardiman? Commissioner Gonzalez, you were recognized.”
“Thank you, Commissioner Gilbert. The conversation is an important one, because when I was presented with this item for sponsorship, my reaction was the same as yours, Commissioner Gilbert. I was like, what do you mean, delegated authority on this, that, and the other? I literally had the conversation that you just had on the microphone with the airport. But when it was described to me and given specific examples, for example, your key cards is one of the examples, right? This is the first time in 20 years that Miami International Airport has had the opportunity to build an entire new…”
“Thank you, Commissioner Gilbert. Any further discussion? To the attorneys, I think it's important to clarify, especially when a statute provision has been mentioned on the record. Can the attorneys just provide clarity on this discussion between sole source and legacy and whatever the legal standard is and whether we're making a deliberation today that is something that we may not necessarily appreciate?”
“Understood. Okay. And to the attorneys on page five of the item, it's exhibit a, and it says it's titled exhibit a sole sourced materials in system. And the far left column says legacy contract number. And then it lists the 15 and it's, you know you know, Guidance sign lighting security systems communication systems Nokia's network systems airfield lighting systems and there's a number next to each of the 15 L dash 104 88 so on and so forth these contracts that I guess were previously determined by this board to be legacy contracts what are the numbers associated to each of those 15 are those…”
“Contract numbers from a competitive procurement process?”
“Okay. So this is taking already existing legacy contracts. And essentially extending them for the development of Terminal K and D60.”
“So if I am a contractor and I'm bidding for the work on D60 or Terminal K, I want to bid on concrete. I want to bid on lighting. I want to bid on paint. I want to bid on whatever. And my contract has the requirement to, you know, I may use A, but the airport is saying in order to bid on this contract, we want you to use this system as part of your competitive procurement process. That's what this allows you to do?”
“It allows these contracts to be included in procurement.”
“Commissioner Gilbert, you're recognized.”
“Commissioner Hardiman, you'll recognize.”
“No, it's not. It is a staff item. I was briefed on it and I sponsored it during that briefing, but it's not as though I put in a legislative request in order to proceed in this manner. This is an, this is an administrative initiative that they requested sponsorship over. I hope that answers your question.”
“Correct. I just explained the factual layout of how that took place. Do you want me to repeat it?”
“Anything further, Commissioner Hardiman? You know, Director, I think, listen, I want my colleagues to be comfortable with it. Because like I said on the record already, I felt comfortable sponsoring it because I went through this conversation. I asked you a million questions. I remember. But I want them to have the same level of comfort. And I do think that when you have items like this, and I don't know if you did this or not, but being very proactive particularly with this committee to have these conversations especially on items like this would go a very very long way um so you know i…”
“Chief Morales, our esteemed colleague is issuing a warning. That's what that sounded like, okay? And considering the conversation that we had, the entire agenda has been moved with the exception of 3i. It has been bifurcated. I believe it's been seconded by Commissioner Orbis. All those in favor of the entire agenda with the exception of 3i, signify by saying aye. Aye. Anyone wish to be recorded? No on all items with the exception of 3i. The agenda carries. I will move 3i. It's been seconded by Commissioner Gilbert. All those in favor of 3i signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Anyone wish to be…”