I am in the process of taking over (buying) a p/w business from an aquaintance who is retiring / changing industries. While securing his next endeavor, he has been gracious enough to show me the ropes - since my pre-fatherhood career was far removed from this industry ... anyway, he has had a fair amount of W. Oregon's USPS contracts for over a decade, and while they tend to be less cost-effective as many accounts, their stability and continuity between postal locations provides a solid foundation for a rookie like myself. I also see them as a parachute during lean economies and an excellent avenue for training employees in the future. Okay, sorry for losing focus...
Last Fall we were invited to bid on a large account that included a good slice of the greater Portland (OR) area, which would have secured pretty much every postal facility of notable size in western Oregon - adding a nice feather in the cap for marketing, and greatly improving our bottom line. We recieved the bid application less than five work days prior to the deadline, which I view as odd at best. We took it in stride, and continued with the process. My partner has had a relationship with USPS for nearly 15 yrs., so the process was involved but not foreign. We dotted our I's, crossed the T's, and jumped through each bureaucratic hoop we could necessary.
The deadline passed, as did many months, without notice. We have called PA., where the decision is being made, regularly; most times without reply. The times we did contact the person in charge of this decision, she was cordial, and familiar with this bid, but as per postal regulations, not at liberty to release ANY info. other than "the lawyers are ironing out technicalities with the contract...", and we will be notified. A rumor ran into us that the bid was awarded to someone else, and she became quite unsettled, denied that it had been awarded, and said she would "find out" how such info. was leaked.
We know the bid has not been awarded, since we know some of the Postmasters who are not getting their vehicles cleaned. Several of what were our accounts lie under the umbrella of said bid, so we have a relationship with them.
I am SO bad at keeping things short, and I apologize. I greatly appreciate any and all help you may provide, and want all pertinent info. to be laid out.
NOW, what I DO know, is that the USPS is extremely strict and consice when it comes to contracts, bidding, and all other legal matters. I know that they have MANY regulations to follow when accepting bids, and my nose for bad politics and other sub-scrupulous behaviors is sniffing something that tells me not to count on anything, but we're not yet out of the hunt ...
There is a Bid Appeal Board that I can write to, but I we can't appeal something that is currently not awarded. The angle I've been looking at is to somehow go above the head of who is clogging up the machine, and point out some regulations that were ignored. I can accept losing a bid, but this is just plain comical anymore. There are so many goofy rules to submitting a USPS bid (like not removing any staples, what colors of pen to use, etc.), yet when it comes to remaining within the boundaries of doing fair, respectable business, only the government can bring it to this level. None of the contractors in competition for a bid are allowed to share info. of ANY kind with each other OR Postal employees, and my feeling is that somewhere downtown there is a friend of someone who is wanting this bid, and we outbid them; ot only in numbers, but with our track record with USPS.
Now that I've taken up this much of your time, I'll say thank you in advance, for any help provided. I appreciate your time and respect your opinion ... all of you. I've many more questions, many banal in nature, but I'm not shy and can't be embarrassed ... and believe that we all have dues in life to pay, so that's what I'm doin'. I love this business so far, and have the thick skin to succeed.
p.s.
Scott, I lived in AZ. for 12 years prior to moving back to the PNW. lived in Mesa for some years. Have any stories, I do.
Take Care,
Sunny, aka "bucket"