Wednesday, March 20, 2002
The copier cost less than $15,000.
By STEPHEN SIFF
TRUMBULL STAFF WRITER
WARREN -- The Trumbull County health commissioner has asked the FBI to investigate how bids were submitted for a contract to sell the health department a copy machine.
"We have gotten in touch with the FBI to investigate possible bid rigging or influencing," Vincent Catuogno told the board of health Tuesday evening.
At Catuogno's request, the board tabled a resolution to buy a Konica digital copier/scanner/printer from Valley Office Equipment, which has offices in Youngstown and Warren.
Catuogno said the situation came to light after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the board's agenda was prepared.
Price of copier: The agenda item did not mention the price of the copier, but when the model was introduced in 2000 its suggested retail price was $13,300, according to the manufacturer's Web page.
Catuogno said that at last month's board meeting he suggested buying the machine from its usual office supply company.
The board asked him to instead get prices from several different suppliers.
Four companies were contacted and asked to submit sealed bids.
The bidding process was not mandatory and the board was not required to advertise for bids, because the copier cost less than $15,000, he said.
Catuogno said he contacted the FBI, rather than local law enforcement, because the possible transaction could involve interstate commerce.
siff@vindy.com