BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A fierce battle between two security companies over an $8 million county contract to provide security in different county buildings has been decided.
TransWest, who won the contract, claimed they are more local and more experienced in Kern County. Allied Universal, the national company originally favored by county staff, was looking for companies to split the contract
“I think this whole process is a little bit of a circus,” said an AlliedUniversal spokesperson to county supervisors.
“A vote for a broken up contract, is frankly a vote against local,” said Dustin Dodgin, legal counsel for TransWest.
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Both companies have been battling for this contract for months, but supervisors made the decision to award the contract to TransWest. County staff who interviewed the companies recommended the county to switch to Allied Universal. TransWest protested that decision.
At a county meeting in August, supervisors held off choosing a company until the first meeting in September.
A new proposal was then put on the floor for the supervisors to split the contract with TransWest, Allied, and Servexo, another security company that bid.
District 4 Supervisor and Chairman David Couch then made a motion, “I would like to approve an agreement with TransWest, but give you the opportunity for you to go talk to departments and see if they actually want someone other than TransWest, and if they do, then I want you to bring that back to us.”
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The motion was approved, allowing TransWest to enter into contract negotiations with the county.
“Well, very appreciative of supervisor’s time, staff time that went into this important decision and ultimately arrived at the right result in the best interest of the County,” said Dodgin.
AlliedUniversal refused to do an interview and said they would send a statement, but as of now there has been no comment from Allied.
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