Cutting a School Contract Down to Size

He put the kibosh on EdBuild's desire to serve as the final arbiter of disputes between the school system and space-sharing partners in school facilities. That task, Janey declared, would be left to a designated, neutral third party.

So EdBuild failed to get the whole store. But it still got the $57.6 million sole-source contract -- without approval of the school system's chief procurement officer, Kevin Green.

Which gets us to the D.C. Council.

Gray told me in an e-mail last week that the council is concerned about the award of sole-source contracts as well as about the school system's piecemeal approach to modernization. City lawmakers, he said, wanted to ensure that the recently authorized $2 billion to $3 billion school modernization program is handled properly. That's why, he explained, the council approved creation of a new agency with its own operating budget to manage and oversee the construction and renovation program. Gray asked, in his e-mail, "Why enter into a contract with EdBuild at this point when we are embarking on an entirely new approach to school construction where such responsibilities will be assumed by an agency designated to manage such projects?" A good question.

EdBuild feels its approach could be a model for future public-private relationships, a point echoed by Reinoso in an e-mail to me yesterday.

Gray also observed that with the approval of the mayor's school takeover plan, the school system may cease to have authority even to transmit contracts, since it will no longer be an independent agency.

Meanwhile, EdBuild has a date with the D.C. Council.

Gray said that he intends to introduce a resolution of disapproval of the EdBuild contract when it arrives at the council. That action will extend the council's period of consideration from 10 days to 45 days. He also has reserved June 18 for public hearings on the EdBuild contract.

Mark your calendar.

kingc@washpost.com