WHEREAS, NeXturf, an artificial turf surface produced by Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. for use in sports stadiums, is a prototypical field turf system that has had limited use in outdoor, multi-sport arenas around the country; and
WHEREAS, In November, 2000, the City of Philadelphia awarded the turf-replacement project to Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. for installation of its NeXturf product in Veterans Stadium, absent a competitive bidding process under a sole-source contract arrangement; and
WHEREAS, In order to ensure good procurement management practices in the future, City Council should review and evaluate the City's sole-source bidding process and policy, and make recommendations regarding that process and policy accordingly; and
WHEREAS, The City paid Southwest Recreational Industries, Inc. approximately $2 million for the NeXturf field without considering bids from other possible providers of both natural and artificial turf playing surfaces; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Eagles first pre-season game, scheduled for Monday, August 13, 2001, was cancelled when the NeXturf field system failed to perform as required; now therefore
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes its Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold hearings on the NeXturf procurement for Veterans Stadium, as to whether the procurement of a new playing surface was needed, whether the procurement process by which the decision was made was appropriate, and whether the NeXturf problems have been adequately addressed; as well as reviewing and evaluating the City's sole-source bidding process and policy.
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