‘Fairness O_cer’ proposal seems pretty fair

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‘Fairness O_cer’ proposal seems pretty fair

Recent complaints over how the state Department of Human Services, better known as DHS, handles the process of accepting bids from private contractors and how they are selected has certain attracted the attention of concerned lawmakers on the state’s Legislative Council.

We certainly have to hand it to recently hired DHS Director Cindy Gillespie who has already demonstrated her leadership abilities in reforming this troubled agency and how she has addressed this latest issue by creating what she calls a “Fairness Officer.” So just exactly what is a “fairness officer” anyway?

Well, it was explained to us like this, the new position would be focused on “helping with evaluation teams to ensure that conversations inside evaluations around bids are fair and equitable” and helping with “documentation and things of that nature to ensure that all the packets regarding bid solicitations are open and transparent,” so says Gillespie.

This new hire will be paid about $45,000 a year and that the main qualification is that this person must have a law degree. This position will be assigned to the department’s legal team instead of in the procurement office.

This all stems from previous procurements where there have been questions as to how they were evaluated and how they were handled.

It is Gillespie’s belief, based on what is being done in other states, that this individual will play a critical role in cleaning up the process.

For instance, two nonprofit organizations running seven Arkansas juvenile treatment and detention centers have complained that state officials simply failed to document why a for-profit, out-of-state company should replace them, even though the new company’s bid was more expensive.

Chief procurement Officer Misty Eubanks told lawmakers on the Legislative Council more states, including California, are hiring fairness officers, especially for high-profile contracts, and it’s a standard practice in some other countries, such as Canada, Great Britain and Australia.

Insofar as Arkansas is concerned, there should be a unquestionable checks and balance system in place that will insure there are no special favors given and that every bidder is treated equally and fairly.

Far too often, there are seasoned bureaucrats in decision-making positions that, for one reason or another, get away with playing favorites.

This can be avoided by having a third party involved in reviewing all the bidding processes that were handled by the procurement office. And it was a wise decision on the part of Gillespie that this third party be part of the department’s legal team.

As we’ve pointed out, Gillespie has already made some very successful changes in how this state’s DHS functions and we’re sure there will be some additional decisions that will prove beneficial to not only those tens of thousands of Arkansans who reply upon DHS services but the taxpayers as well.