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NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers, criticized for how it handled the bidding for post-Hurricane drainage pumps that proved to be defective, is defending its use of the winning bidder's own language — down to the typos — in laying out the specifications.
In a letter released by Sen. David Vitter's office Wednesday, the corps' commander, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, said it is "an accepted and prudent procurement practice" to rely on "industry published technical specifications" — especially for work that must be completed quickly.
The May 2 letter came in response to a request last month from the Louisiana Republican senator that the corps look into how Moving Water Industries Corp. got the $32 million contract to install 34 drainage pumps at New Orleans canals before the start of the 2006 hurricane season.
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