When Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter, Jennifer Langston, comments on the "Chummy culture" at Port of Seattle, her article demonstrates a unique behind-the-scenes look at how negotiating for the deal has worked there.
Can you find the elements of an agrreement in the following, extracted from a sidebar to the article?
TUMMY RUBBING
Here's how a Port of Seattle consultant with WHH Construction and a project manager for Gary Merlino Construction Co., a Sea-Tac Airport contractor, resolved their differences over how much more the port should pay for unforeseen work on emergency generator enclosures and power systems.
Contractor's proposal:
$80,000
The port's estimate:
$50,000
On Jan. 18, the consultant e-mailed the project manager to say some costs were OK, but "still laughing at the rest ... (actually you and SE do have something coming so lets figure that out via tummy rub in lieu of you all documenting what is undocumentable.)"
On Jan 25, the contractor wrote: "Gee you're starting to wear me down on this. NOT." He offered $65,000; the consultant countered with $54,500.
The contractor's response: "You're getting closer but not close enough. Total of 62 for the both of them. Write it up and we're done."
The port consultant replied: "If it starts with a '5' we're there."
The change order was made final for $59,999
(Taken from the front page, of the March 3, 2008 Seattle P-I.)
Do we have an agreement here? Share your comments on her article, the 'e-negotiation', and any appropriate application of the law, in your view.
1 comment:
I wonder how different the exchange would have been if the Port of Seattle employee had been negotiating with a contractor for work to be done at his/her private home? Would the employee have been so irresponsible and cavalier? I doubt it. That additional $10,000 would not of left the employees bank account without some cold hard figures justifying the additional charge. The money the employees of the PoS are "playing" fast and loose with is not theirs. It is our money that you and I are paying to Pos each and every day and I want, nay demand, better oversight.
"Disgusted in Magnolia"
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