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Isle of Man TT course contract is up far grabs
COMPANIES who would like to be considered for the role of Isle of Man TT course contractor are being sought by the Department of Economic Development.
Geoff Corkish MHK, the DED's political representative for motorsport, explained the motorsport section was asking for expressions of interest from companies who would like to fulfil the role of TT course contractor.
The successful bidder would be responsible for the set-up, management, removal, storage and maintenance of course furniture, including safety bales, marshals' huts, pole protectors, warning boards, directional arrows and pit lane fuel dispensers.
For the past three years, said Mr Corkish, Kissack's had carried out this role and had done so very well.
He was unsure whether there had been a tender process before but said it was necessary from now on to do so.
The contract will be for three years.
Anyone interested should contact Ed Swain at the DED motorsport section, St Andrew's House, Finch Road, Douglas, IM1 2PX, before the deadline of September 17. Alternatively call him on 686874 or email ed.swain@gov.im
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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YOUR COMMENTS
Why change what isn't broken??? Kissack's may have had the current contract for the past three years but there involvement in the "setting up" etc of the TT course certainly goes back further than 3 years. Never mind all this being "politically correct" – this is the Isle of Man – if things are working well – leave them alone!!! I think you will struggle to find another contractor who is harder working and more dedicated than Howard Kissack, his three sons and army of staff.
ANON, and Manx
Why every three years?, surely we will waste more money going through the tender process than can be saved by changed the provider! And more importantly risk the good will of the the existing company, did the government not learn anything from the Liverpool hospital taxi fiasco!
NICKTHEGREEK
Agree entirely ANON. Does Mr Corkish give an explanation for exactly why the job must now go out to tender? Are we going to get another fiasco as with the roads opening contract?
CONCERNED MANXMAN
The mystery is why the the government haven't shelled out some of our money on a firm of consultants before reaching this decision. Still, the tender process will keep a few people in a job, I'm sure. Let's hope an off-Island company wins the contract - that'll be good won't it?
THE REALIST
Geoff Corkish is unsure if the course contract had been a tender process before, why is he not sure? He should be sure if he's the DED's political representative for motorsport who is now asking for tenders.
I have nothing against the current contractor and I do not know him, so I do not have any gripe with who he is or what he does, nor do I have anything to gain personally. I can not agree with the sentiment of 'don't fix what's not broken' as it could be the case that the current contractor is charging well over the odds for his services, but who would ever know it if there's no tender process? Do other contractors with the capability not deserve a chance? It could be that another contractor could do the job just as well as or even better than the current contractor. I am very interested to know how many years the current contractor has been carrying out the same type of contracted duties for these events, and also what other similar contracts have been awarded without tenders being required. Seemingly the time frame for submitting a tender for the contract is very short, doesn't seem like it's giving anyone else an opportunity to cost for the job. To me it smacks once again of the 'old school tie' (wink wink) network who have had a stranglehold on the TT, MGP and many other goings on that most of us will never know about. Things will probably never change that much, but it would seem at last that the ordinary Manx tax payer is finaly getting to see under that crusty layer which is so instrumental in keeping a closed shop.
SICK-OF-IT-ALL
The process of tendering if done properly and fairly (note) is a good way to get a specified service for a reasonable sum. It should however be on an annual basis, just in case as has been proven before that it all goes wrong. Tendering also attracts a fair bit of paperwork and reporting back, a matter disscussed on another thread in respect of motorsports quangos.
STEVO
I think that Mr Corkish left a five off the end of the 3 years that he said Kissack's have managed the course furniture. I understand it's more like 35 years that they have done the job. I am also surprised that the government doesn't know if it's ever been tendered for before.
IAN DAVIES, Crosby
Just one more way of wasting money Mr Corkish. Unless the current contracter (Kissack) are stepping down then why not leave well alone. For a starter you don't even know if it has been tendered for in past. Talk about fixing something that's not broken.
PEEJAY
What's the betting G4S will be tendering? They seem to be getting in to lots of Government work
CYNIC
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