ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 2010) – The National
Office Products Alliance (NOPA) applauds the decision of the Lee County School
District to terminate its relationship with Office Depot based on the results of
a thorough audit by Director of Audit Bob Brown, of office supplies pricing and
actual charges under the U.S. Communities national contract, and the
recommendations of Superintendent Dr. James Browder.
"Their actions serve as a bright beacon to local
governments and school districts that suspect they may have overpaid for office
supplies under similar contracts," said Chip Jones, chairman of NOPA and
president of Minton-Jones, an independent office products dealer in Atlanta, GA.
The need for an audit was first brought to
school district’s attention two years ago by former Office Depot employee and
now federally protected whistle-blower David Sherwin. Lee County officials
announced their decision yesterday to terminate their contract with Office Depot
and sign a $297,000 settlement with the company.
“Superintendent Browder, Director Brown and the
members of the board should be commended for their systematic efforts to audit
their contract with Office Depot and their decisive action to end the contract
with the company based on the results," said Chris Bates, president of NOPA.
"Local media in Florida and elsewhere have
played a central role in helping ensure that public interests are protected by
giving high visibility to the risks and identified problems associated with
'piggy back' sole-source office supplies contracts, such as the U.S. Communities
national contract. Matt Clark of the Naples News has been especially persistent
and balanced in his coverage of this important issue as it has developed in
Florida," NOPA chairman Jones noted.
"This situation again highlights the serious
flaws of sole-source contracts, which stifle competition among multiple
suppliers essential to ensuring best overall delivered value and contract
compliance in office supplies procurements. Over the past few years, a growing
number of local communities and state governments have discovered these serious
flaws in their sole-sourced office supplies contracts," Bates added. "It is time
for government at all levels to abandon this failing procurement model," he
concluded.
About NOPA
The National Office Products Alliance (NOPA) is the trade Association for
independent office products dealers and their trading partners. For more
information, visit www.nopanet.org or call
(800) 542-6672.
