TV MEDIA REPORTS


See the TV News Reports at the top of the Sidebar below to the right, just below this links section....and click on the photos!

LEGAL CASES

  • John Fox & Clemon Williams vs. Kern High School District, Whistleblowing to the FBI Re: Garland Purchase Orders, Bakersfield, California, 2013
  • GSA vs. Tremco, Qui Tam Suit, 2013
  • Los Angeles vs. Garland, Re: Bid Collusion, Racketeering, etc., Los Angeles, California, About 1997
  • Quality Tile Roofing vs. Tremco Roofing, Re: False Fraud Charges leveled at Tremco Certified Contractor for not bidding Tremco products at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Boise, Idaho, About 1997

Monday, April 15, 2013

The GSA's Office of Inspector General finds irregularities in Chicago's Federal Building Roof Replacement Project

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the General Services Administration (GSA) in Chicago issued a memo October 13, 2011 criticizing the award and administration of the Chicago Federal Building Roof Replacement bid - awarded to Tremco.


The areas of concern were:
1.  "The project should not have been awarded under a Multiple 
      Award Schedule (MAS) given the non routine aspects of
      the project."

2.  "Public Buildings Service (PBS) personnel did not resolve
      the significant difference between bids and the 
      Independent Government Estimate (IGE) prior to award."

3.  "Several months after award, PBS issued a modification 
     for over $1 million, which could not be verified to the MAS 
     price list."

4.  "Five subcontractors did not provide certified payroll records."


"On July 24, 2009, the Great Lakes Region’s PBS awarded a $2,461,717 task order (GSP0509SI0362) to Tremco, Inc., of Beachwood, Ohio."

 "On July 16, 2009, the estimator sent the contracting officer an email with an IGE, totaling $4,038,177, for this project. Four vendors submitted bids, three of which ranged from 20 to 39 percent below the original IGE amount.

PBS awarded the task order toTremco, the low bidder, for $2,461,717, 39 percent below the IGE."

"On December 15, 2009, PBS issued modification PC02,  for $1,045,194.  The modification raised the total value of the order to $3,506,91."

The project was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  

See:   http://www.recovery.gov/Accountability/inspectors/Documents/GSA%20OIG%20Recovery%20Act%20Memo-Clark%20Roof%20FINAL.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,0,800


Saturday, April 6, 2013

U.S. Probe of Roofing Contracts Hands RPM a Potential $68.8 million Fine


Update:

From The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio

 "Analyst Ivan Marcuse, a vice president of KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. in Cleveland, said that...the Department of Justice inquiry [ into Tremco Roofing ] was something to keep an eye on, but that it's hard to know if it will be a "one-and-done type of thing," or an ongoing issue, because RPM's management can't divulge details until it's settled."

For those in the Roofing Industry in the know about their practices, the US Attorney General's Offices and the GSA need to hear from you.

See:
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/rpm_reports_424_million_loss_in_3rd_quarter_as_major_charges_continue_to_batter_fiscal_2013_earnings.html


___________________________________________

It has been announced that the GSA and Department of Justice has been investigating roofing, cool roofing and other building envelope materials contracts from RPM companies - Tremco, Dryvit, DPA, WTI and Can Am - for the years 2002 to 2008.  

"RPM said the loss [Feb. 28 end of quarter earnings losses] mainly was due to an estimated loss contingency of $68.8 million associated with an investigation of roofing contracts between the company's Building Solutions Group and the GSA."

From:
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130404/FREE/130409882/0/SEARCH
___________________________________________

"DOJ and GSA Investigation

RPM Building Solutions Group is involved in discussions with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and US General Services Administration (GSA) aimed at resolving an investigation into the firm's practices.  

The investigation involves its compliance with certain pricing terms and conditions of GSA contracts under which the company sold products and services to the federal government. 

The company expects a loss of nearly $69 million from this ordeal. However, as the loss remains subject to approval from the DOJ, it could vary from this figure."

From:  
http://www.equities.com/news/materials/2013-04-04/1247812/rpm-down-on-toxic-earnings-guidance.story

___________________________________________

U.S. Probe Hands RPM a $42M 

Loss in Q3

 "
Roofing Products Investigation

RPM’s biggest loss involves a $68.8 million contingency associated with the company’s anticipated settlement of an investigation of roofing contracts between its Building Solutions Group and the General Services Administration.

The Building Solutions group includes the Tremco, Dryvit, DPA, WTI and CanAm brands for cool roofs, deck coatings and membranes, air barriers, sealants and waterproofing, and other building envelope applications.

Building Solutions is part of RPM’s industrial segment, which makes up 67 percent of the company’s net sales.

RPM said Thursday that it was in settlement talks with the Justice Department and GSA “aimed at resolving the investigation.”

“The company is cooperating with the investigation, which involves compliance with certain pricing terms and conditions of GSA contracts under which RPM's Building Solutions Group roofing division sold products and services to the federal government,” RPM said.

Most of the contingency relates to products and services sold between 2002 and 2008. The final settlement may vary from the contingency, RPM noted.

The company also noted other weakness in its North American roofing market.

From:
http://www.paintsquare.com/news/?fuseaction=view&ID=9420
___________________________________________


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Texas Legislature Goes After Cooperative Purchasing Contracts



Last summer, the Texas Legislature held a hearing on the Cooperative Purchasing Agreements - which affect Roofing.

The hearing can be seen at:
Texas House of Representatives -

Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform - Meeting July 12, 2012


One can also see the following:

The Notice

The Witness List

In the list are the following Roofing Companies/Professional Association:

DuCharme, Michael (Carlisle Construction Materials)  -  who spoke at the first hearing on this issue, ever, held June 30, 2010 at the California Legislature's Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review

Huber, Michael (The Garland Company)

Naber, Dave (Dave Naber Tremco Incorporated) 

Ward, III, Arthur (RCI, Inc) - for those that don't know, the RCI is the Roof Consultant's Institute out of Raleigh, NC and have posted a position statement against the use of COOP Agreements, here:
and
                      
Wilson, Dennis (CCAP, Inc Firestone Building Products) - A Spokesperson from Firestone spoke at the California Legislative Hearings starting June 30, 2010
                                 
Woodring, William (GAF)  -  A Spokesperson from GAF also spoke at the California Legislative Hearings starting June 30, 2010

Note that  "Percaciante, Frank (The Garland Company)Registered but did not speak, according to their record above.

Tremco and Garland's interests in Texas' Cooperative Purchasing Agencies and any school or public works roofing contracts surely can be no different than what we have experienced in California. 

Note also that Garland had spent over $1 million to stop hearings and legislation in California since their June 30, 2010 hearings and were not only successful, the go-to State Senator let me know in no uncertain terms how viciously angry he was with me for alerting the California Legislature.  On a September, 2012 evening with only his daughter for a "witness", for over an hour he showed his fury in his face as we talked about another issue.  He was a former President of the San Francisco School Board.and on it with the other former President of the same board, who told me that "EVERYBODY" was on the take and laughing, then threatened my life, twice, in two minutes.  San Francisco Unified School District has done a majority of their roofing with Garland, sole-sourced.

Some politicians apparently don't like us exposing their "funding" sources....





Dayton, Ohio Daily News Reports on the Scam - Again


 The Dayton Daily News, the first to link the roofing scam nationwide in a report Oct. 22, 2000 and after several previous reports about the scam in their area, has done it again.  Reported Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

The scam has not been stopped in Ohio, and in their area.

Miami County Sherriff's Investigators "estimate county commissioners wasted about $500,000 by awarding no-bid contracts to a vendor from the Cleveland area while ignoring a local company that offered to do the work for less than half the price."


The Story is here:

Investigator: Lack of bidding cost Miami County taxpayers




A New Jersey Engineering Firm Prosecuted for Conspiracy & Money Laundering Goes Belly-Up


Why would this story relate to the Roofing Scam?

The tactics used by the Engineering Firm have been seen in similar scams targeting school funds and other public facilities construction contracts.

What happened?

Birdsall was "indicted for conspiring over six years to funnel money through employees to the same elected officials awarding them millions of dollars in public contracts."

The story is here:

Indicted N.J. engineering firm Birdsall Services Group files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The story is how they caught for doing what is here:

Secret recording led to criminal case against N.J. engineering firm Birdsall Services Group 

It's another lesson in how kickbacks are given for contracts....

____________________


And from the Comments Section to the first story above is a list of the politicians receiving "contributions" from Birdsall - note the preponderence of Democrats - same thing we see in California recently with the arrests in the San Diego area of 15 School Superintendents, School Board Members, Construction Management Company Personnel, a BOND Financier! and an architect - and we know it's a lot worse across California...:

"
I'd like to see a list of the top recipients of those Birdsall contributions! 

Mary Anne Connolly D
DNC D
Frank Pollone D
Timothy cardon D
Bill Pascrell D
James Treffinger R
John Edwards D
Jn Corzine D
Robert Menendez D
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee D
America Coming Together PAC D
Evan Bayh D
Barak Obama D
William Gormley R
Rush Holt D
Steve Rothman D
Donald Young R
Robert Torricelli D
John Kerry D
NJ Democrat State Committee D
New Millennium PAC D

Should I continue?
"

Oklahoma Legislators Debate Roofing Contracts



The State's use of a RAMP Program without competitive bidding has now reached the Oklahoma Legislature.


NEWS 9 in Oklahoma report is at:

Oklahoma Lawmakers Debate Over Roofing Contracts


You can help Oklahomans get the best prices and longest-lasting roofs with real warranties by contacting their legislature.


Group in Oklahoma Going After Wasted Roofing Dollars



KOKH Fox 25 in Oklahoma City reported that the State's "Ramp Program" was unfairly bid.


This is their Roof Asset Management Program.  The roofing manufacturers are not identified.  Previously, we saw reports of Tremco's involvement.  However - we need to see if Garland and others are involved as well.

They did not address the issue of locked-down specs, key to how these scams take place.

See it here:

Group Claims State Roofing Program Violates Law & Wastes Tax Dollars