Hillsborough County Public Schools Business
Information Item

DATE: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Hillsborough County Public Schools Registers With BidBridge to Pilot Reverse Auction (Business Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

BidBridge provides e-procurement services to both the public and private sectors. BidBridge utilizes a web-based procurement tool that adds a reverse auction to the current bidding process. Suppliers compete online through an electronic, sealed bidding platform by submitting multiple lowering bids in a timed event. In contrast to the traditional paper bidding process, a buyer may receive multiple bids from each supplier versus the one price per supplier paper bid format, ultimately providing true market-value for a purchase. The end result is the final, lowest amount offered by a supplier. Other advantages include complete transparency in the bidding process; a comprehensive, compliant audit trail; and instant bid tabulation. Our pilot would include bidding commodities such as playground equipment, vehicles, and utility tractors. We would avoid commodities that would adversely affect local small businesses.

This web-based procurement tool has been reviewed by the School Board attorney, Tom Gonzalez.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

* Align financial resources to support the district’s strategic goals, * Demonstrate best financial practices

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

There is no direct cost to the District. A small transaction fee is paid by the winning bidder. Traditionally reverse auctions produce savings on average of 14%.

EVALUATION

Success will be measured through the statistical data the Procurement Department will collect and monitor.

SUBMITTED BY:

Jean R. Bowman
General Manager, Procurement Department
813-272-4374
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
813-272-4270
A 9.01
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20090127_342 * Section A Item# 9.01