WAPA Defends Secrecy of Evaluation Team Amid PSC’s Push for Disclosure in $200 Million Propane Contract

A routine update before the Public Services Commission (PSC) on efforts to find a new propane supplier for the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) escalated into a heated exchange Tuesday after PSC Chairman Pedro Williams insisted on learning the identities of WAPA’s bid evaluation team — a demand that WAPA officials resisted, citing procurement integrity and potential conflicts of interest within the Commission itself.

The agenda item began with a summary of the ongoing procurement process. WAPA’s contract administration manager, Nicole Aubain, disclosed that five proposals are currently under review. The evaluation committee, which met for the first time last week, is scheduled to meet weekly until completing its report by November 20 or shortly thereafter. Recommendations are expected to be presented to the WAPA board at its December meeting, Ms. Aubain said.

“In your list of five submittals, does that include the entity that Vice Chair Hughes was asking you to consider?” asked PSC Chair Pedro Williams. WAPA officials confirmed that it did. “The vendor that's been advocated for has submitted a proposal,” said WAPA General Counsel Dionne Sinclair. Mr. Williams took exception to the characterization. PSC members also learned that Vitol was among the respondents.

Through questioning by ex-officio member Senator Carla Joseph, the PSC was informed that all five members of WAPA’s evaluation team are internal staff. “Can you tell us who those five persons are?” Chairman Williams asked. “In order that the process maintain some level of confidentiality and be outside of the influence of everyone,” Ms. Sinclair replied, “it is key right now to not disclose the members of the evaluation team.”