Free: Contests & Raffles.
He just goes from one blunder to the next. $139K, nobody in his chain raised any flags?
Just think, those same doors probably would have been seven figures with the last administration. Of course, they never got investigated because they just didn’t hire IGs. Oh, Zinke sucks.
I’ve literally seen guys get paid 80 bucks and hour to sweep the floor. You can thank your local union
You guys have obviously never worked on any government contracts. I’ve literally seen guys get paid 80 bucks and hour to sweep the floor. You can thank your local union
Quote from: lord grizzly on March 08, 2018, 09:04:40 PMYou guys have obviously never worked on any government contracts. I’ve literally seen guys get paid 80 bucks and hour to sweep the floor. You can thank your local unionI've known guys with the national park that had to drive from a head quarters to more remote work location, just under 4 hrs each way. Get there and do an hour of work, then drive back. Park had a cabin there, but weren't authorized to use because of per diem. Took 3 weeks to do a 2 day job.
Still, I'm curious why so much $ That's a question for the facilities and security officials
Quote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:26:01 PMStill, I'm curious why so much $ That's a question for the facilities and security officialsWithout knowing anything about the doors, it's impossible to guess. Large, period correct double doors could run in the tens of thousands per set if they had to be custom made.
So this was well in the works looooong before Zinky, it's not like he was putting in rape doors and came up with this project all on his own. Why all the fuss?
Quote from: Knocker of rocks on March 08, 2018, 09:32:29 PMQuote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:26:01 PMStill, I'm curious why so much $ That's a question for the facilities and security officialsWithout knowing anything about the doors, it's impossible to guess. Large, period correct double doors could run in the tens of thousands per set if they had to be custom made. Hence my curiosity, rather than condemnation.
Quote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:26:01 PMSo this was well in the works looooong before Zinky, it's not like he was putting in rape doors and came up with this project all on his own. Why all the fuss? Maybe because Zinke has been the advocate for cuts within DOI, yet apparently he forgot to ask for cuts on his door replacement.
He spent it?
Quote from: Bob33 on March 08, 2018, 09:45:03 PMHe spent it?He is the head of the agency. When sh** hits the fan it's his head on the line. When things go good, he's there to take credit. Agency directors get canned all the time for screw ups of their subordinates they personally had nothing to do with.
Here's the actual contracthttps://www.usaspending.gov/#/award/5381101
It's no bid contract without competition.
Quote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:48:27 PMIt's no bid contract without competition.How can you tell that?
Quote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:45:37 PMHere's the actual contracthttps://www.usaspending.gov/#/award/5381101I can't seem to locate the actual contract award date
Quote from: Knocker of rocks on March 08, 2018, 09:56:27 PMQuote from: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 09:48:27 PMIt's no bid contract without competition.How can you tell that?It says it under the additional info portion"NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION"
What most people don’t recognize is that the government (excluding true graft and big military) is crippled by public sector litigation that has led to the Government making policy to be as blameless as possible for any instance. The doors probably had a 10 page engineering spec so that if there was ever an 8.0 earthquake the frames would not warp and scare a visitor giving them PTSD resulting in a multi million dollar settlement. Then the IDIQ contractors take their huge cut to sub out the actual work at Davis Bacon wage. The agencies are not perfect, but between unions, worker protection laws, budgetary line item limits, litigation, historic site requirements, and policy (based on law) it is much more expensive for the govt. to conduct business than in the private sector. There are many projects like this that cost vastly more than they should. The govt. in general is treated as a social program to support the economy. I don’t know how to fix it and many other people on the ground level see the inequality of govt. vs. private sector projects. Rest assured that if someone wants a FOIA accounting of the costs of three doors then they can get it to analyze the full economic analysis of the project and there will likely be no i missing a dot or t missing its cross that anyone can make a case about. The cost of $139,000 for the doors seems stupid, but I am sure it is justifiable. This is certainly something needing addressed, but is not a quick fix. On to Zinke’s travel. There is a big stink about him charging travel to a fire budget, I would bet dimes to dollars that he never knew anything about charging to that specific account. Budget is a whole different level from him and if he sets up his own travel and codes the budget account then he is working well below his level. He probably has a thousand different budgets he can code to and if it was determined to travel on a budget with funds from the overall DOI budget then that should be acceptable. Most of the budgets are fluid coming from the overall budget projections and can be apportioned as necessary.
The flag thing I believe is just part of his military background...I see a lot of SES flags put on display when senior civilians (much lower rank than a cabinet secretary) are present at government offices. If a former SEAL and current Secretary wants a flag flown when he's in the building...put the damn flag up.
Quote from: idahohuntr on March 08, 2018, 10:13:56 PMThe flag thing I believe is just part of his military background...I see a lot of SES flags put on display when senior civilians (much lower rank than a cabinet secretary) are present at government offices. If a former SEAL and current Secretary wants a flag flown when he's in the building...put the damn flag up. Really? Because I've never seen such a thing. Only a few positions actually have their own flag as it as.
There are a lot of good traditions going by the wayside in this day, if Zinke wants to resurrect one then good for him. bigtex - I have never spent much time in DC, but the little time I did spend there showed me it is a different place then the rest of the US and there are things there I have never seen in the 50 states
Quote from: bigtex on March 08, 2018, 10:17:36 PMQuote from: idahohuntr on March 08, 2018, 10:13:56 PMThe flag thing I believe is just part of his military background...I see a lot of SES flags put on display when senior civilians (much lower rank than a cabinet secretary) are present at government offices. If a former SEAL and current Secretary wants a flag flown when he's in the building...put the damn flag up. Really? Because I've never seen such a thing. Only a few positions actually have their own flag as it as.Yep...very common in DoD. There is a flag for SES members...the same for every agency.
Yep, in the works long before Zinke was put in charge!! Some people jump before they read the whole story!!It is also a "historical site" or better known as Hysterical Site!! Which means it cost ten times the normal way of doing things!They have to find the exact replacement wood, has to look exactly like the rest of the building etc etc!! Government contract so prevailing wage has to be met, all EPA regs are enforced, etc etc.Oh ya, did we forget this in DC??There is a USFS building on Mt. Baker that cost the taxpayers a whole LOT MORE then Zinke's doors and the Democrats didn't complain about that being a WASTE!!!Funny what gets "people" going these days!!
Quote from: j_h_nimrod on March 08, 2018, 10:31:01 PMThere are a lot of good traditions going by the wayside in this day, if Zinke wants to resurrect one then good for him. bigtex - I have never spent much time in DC, but the little time I did spend there showed me it is a different place then the rest of the US and there are things there I have never seen in the 50 statesI was referring to traditions in general, not SES flags. If there is a tradition a Secretary or someone else in a senior position that wants to resurrect or try and create then so be it. What is the issue with doing so?If you're referring the SES flag thing, SES positions are nationwide not just in DC. And I agree with Bigtex, I've never heard of an SES or even higher wanting a flag flown when they're around.
Quote from: timberfaller on March 08, 2018, 09:44:23 PMYep, in the works long before Zinke was put in charge!! Some people jump before they read the whole story!!It is also a "historical site" or better known as Hysterical Site!! Which means it cost ten times the normal way of doing things!They have to find the exact replacement wood, has to look exactly like the rest of the building etc etc!! Government contract so prevailing wage has to be met, all EPA regs are enforced, etc etc.Oh ya, did we forget this in DC??There is a USFS building on Mt. Baker that cost the taxpayers a whole LOT MORE then Zinke's doors and the Democrats didn't complain about that being a WASTE!!!Funny what gets "people" going these days!! Which building?