Bureaucrats were given detailed instructions not to tell shortlisted liquor distribution bidders why the privatization was suddenly halted, Business in Vancouver has discovered.
Records released after a BIV Freedom of Information request show Kuehne + Nagel representatives attended a meeting October 15 at the Liquor Distribution Branch head office in Vancouver and representatives of Metro Supply Chain Group were involved in an October 18 teleconference. Both companies were hoping to learn more about the sudden September 28 announcement that the controversial privatization was cancelled.
The meetings were conducted by senior procurement director Pelle Agerup, strategic vendor management executive lead Richard Poutney and acting LDB general manager Roger Bissoondatt.
Their script included the following ground rules:
"Don't talk about other proponents. Don't mention any individual's performance. We are NOT evaluating, this is just a debriefing on the participation in the process. We shouldn't be commenting on the political decision making process (other than what is already public). We shouldn't be commenting on what may or may not be happening in the future."
It told the bureaucrats to tell bidders: "What we can do is provide you with feedback, if you would like, on how we thought you performed during the improvement sessions. And our thoughts on areas where you might improve/take advantage, in the event you are in a similar situation on another engagement."
The script also called for bidders to be told they were free to speak to the media, but still unable to disclose any confidential information provided to them during the bid process, which began with the April 30 request for proposals publication.
The government cited the two-year contract reached September 27 with the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union as the reason for the cancellation of the privatization. The BCGEU deal includes a moratorium on LDB privatization. The government had promoted the privatization as part of the plan to help balance the provincial budget next year.
