Sacramento-- The Department of General Services announced today that the state Building and Property Management Branch (BPM) was the low bidder, by $400,000, on a contract to provide building management services for the Board of Equalization’s building at 450 N Street, in Sacramento. The building is also known as "Capitol Square."

 

"Governor Wilson told us to make government more competitive, so we did," said DGS Director Peter Stamison. "The fact is, when people compete for state business, taxpayers win."

 

"We have always maintained that the issue is not public versus private sector, it’s dollars and cents," said Stamison. "I am pleased and proud that the most competitive bid for this maintenance contract came from state workers."

 

The current building management contract expires in June. The winning bid was $6.5 million over a five-year period. The next highest bid was $6.9 million. The department’s selection of BPM marks the first time that the state-run unit has prevailed in a head-to-head competition for management of state-owned offices.

 

Three private firms and BPM competed for the contract. Two of the firms failed to meet the minimum qualifications expressed in the bidding package. In previous competitions for management of other state office buildings, contracts were awarded to private sector firms. Building management services include maintenance, janitorial, repairs, electrical services, space alterations, plumbing work, carpentry, landscaping, and window cleaning.