U.S. Rep. questions choice of vendor

By D.a. Wilkinson

A German company received a job at Fort Bragg over an American company.

SUMMITVILLE — Democrat Congressman Charlie Wilson and Republican businessman David Johnson are ticked over tiles.

Wilson and other members of the Ohio delegation have fired off a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh over an elementary- school construction project at Fort Bragg, N.C., that the Army recently awarded to Feldhaus, a German company.

According to Wilson’s office, the Army accepted a bid from Feldhaus without allowing Summitville Tiles, a 100-year-old ceramic tile and brick company in Summitville, to submit a bid for the project.

In a release, Wilson said, “I think it is fair to ask the Army to explain why they chose a foreign vendor over an equally qualified Ohio vendor. Every time American companies are overlooked, we put local jobs and communities at risk. I strongly believe that we have to stand up for all of our Ohio companies.”

Two thin-brick product vendors were qualified and approved for use at the new school: Summitville Tiles based in Summitville and Feldhaus.

Earlier this month, Summitville Tiles was informed that the Army picked Feldhaus for the $250,000 contract.

The delegation said it believed that the decision was made before the competition was completed.

“We are concerned that this U.S. company was intentionally excluded from the bidding process by giving a sole source contract being supported by American tax dollars to a foreign company,” the delegation wrote.

Leah Nelson, a spokeswoman for Wilson, said there was no immediate response from McHugh.

Johnson said the project is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program.

Johnson has asked the U.S. Inspector General for the department of defense to start an investigation.

Multiple attempts to reach McHugh’s office and the inspector general’s offices were unsuccessful.

wilkinson@vindy.com