FULL CIRCLE:

THE LATEST ON THE NOPD UNIFORM SITUATION

When last we posted, the City of New Orleans had just released the "new" uniform bid for 2014. As we pointed out, it was just as screwed up as the 2012 bid.  At the pre-bid conference, we raised so many issues that we were told there would be an addendum coming out to "fix the problems".  Well a couple of days later the problems sure got fixed- the bid was cancelled!

A few weeks ago, the city made another effort at putting out a bid.  This time there were some improvements made- all at the suggestion of the members of the NOPD Uniform Committee- but the bid request was so mistake-riddled that we still suggested three pages of corrections in order to make the thing bid-able.  

The end result? The bid was AGAIN cancelled.  As NOPD members of the local Police Organizations may have heard, the city is going to issue checks, as it did pre-vouchers, instead of making the officers wait even longer for the Purchasing Office to try to correct its mistakes.  

It looks like our fight against the city in the name of fairness and competence has netted the officers what they wanted all along- a return to the checks and an escape from an unacceptable contract with a subpar vendor.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Well folks, the 2014 NOPD Uniform Contract Bid is out.  We are currently working on our submission and we thought you would want to know that the bid is just as poorly written as last year's bid.  Here is the link to the solicitation if you want to check it out.

Admirably, some of the problems from last year's solicitation were corrected.  Unfortunately, even more new holes were opened up in this year's edition.  We have too much work to do, figuring out how to make sense of this mess, to get into another full explanation of the issues.  Just rest assured that whoever put this solicitation together has left the city and NOPD's officers vulnerable to yet another debacle of a uniform contract.  

Of course, we shall do our best to win and thereby save everyone from that misery they previously experienced.  

Be careful out there...

THE ALPHA ELITE

BY POINT BLANK ENTERPRISES NOW AVAILABLE FROM A.P.E.

A Revelation: Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology by DSM

The Alpha Elite Series is the first body armor to be based on Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology by DSM, available only from Point Blank. It breaks new ground in polymer science and ballistic technology. DSM Dyneema started with Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber, and made it even stronger. In its unique unidirectional construction, it results in body armor weighing just .88 pound per square foot, achieving a new low in weight and a new high in flexible, all-day comfort.

But there’s much more to the Alpha Elite story:

21 April 2014

LA STATE SUPREME COURT DENIES REQUESTS FOR APPEAL

When we last updated you on our lawsuit, we were in the process of appealing the 4th Circuit's decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court.  We felt that the Appeals court had erred in its decision to declare that the uniform contract needed to be rebid.  State law dictates that the low bidder should receive a contract, and as the only submission besides the sham Signal 26 bid that the 4th circuit ruled "an absolute nullity", we felt (and still feel) that the contract should have immediately been awarded to A.P.E.

NEW FLASHLIGHTS!!! 

Hello, everyone.  Thanks for being interested in what is going on over at A.P.E.  Before we get on with the updates on our lawsuit, we want to update everyone on some product news.

First of all, we have some amazing new LED flashlights in stock from Coast.  The HP7R and HP5R A.P.E. currently stocks are notable for many reasons (including affordability), but we will give you two big ones here.  

The Coast HP7 Rechargeable Flashlight

BEAT THE POLAR VORTEX!

A.P.E. carries the full line of garments from manufacturers like Horace Small, Flying Cross, and Gerber.  We also carry jackets (and uniform garments) from Elbeco and Liberty.  And if you are looking for a sweater, we carry Cobmex, one of the most respected and widely known brands in the uniform industry.  If you are Police, Fire, EMS, or anyone else on the front lines of this weather, we got you covered.

We are also dealers for work gear from manufacturers like Red Kap, Bulwark FR, and Wrangler Workwear.  If you are on the job site in this frigid air, we got you covered, too!

Visit our e-commerce site at www.ape911.com, browse the manufacturers' offerings at the links above, or come by the store to see what we have to offer.

Reality Vs. Fantasy: 

How a Poorly Written Bid Led to a Bidders' Subterfuge

Now that the print media and even TV has really started to publicize this case, one thing keeps coming up over and over again in the articles that A.P.E. disagrees with on principle: the statement that Signal 26 was the low bidder.  Here is why.

(01/16/14)

THE DECISION IS IN:

Yesterday the appeals court issued its opinion.  This was a big surprise to us at A.P.E.; our attorney told us that the decision would probably take at least a month.  However, in six working days the judges were able to form an opinion.

JUST USE THE FORCE

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

Just kidding.  It was yesterday. In Shreveport.

THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE TURN SLOWLY

but they are turning!

Just a quick update:

Our appeal of a New Orleans Civil District Judge's (Cates') denial of our request for preliminary injunction was heard today in the LA Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  It seems that the three judges (Ledet, Lobrano, Belsome) understood the case.  They were particularly weary of

WHY IS A.P.E. SUING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS OVER THE UNIFORM CONTRACT?

Part IV: Improper Participation

This one will be short and sweet, promise.

From the City Code of Ethics:

Sec. 2-777. - Prohibited financial interests.

No city officer or employee shall have a financial interest in any contract with the city, and no contract for professional or other services shall be awarded on the basis of fee kickbacks.

 "Financial interest" is a term broad in scope.  While researching our lawsuit, we found that many -if not all- entities choose to define it as broadly as possible in order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.  Even a less broad application would still apply to rewarding contracts to spouses.

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE:

GO GET YOURSELF A NICE LEATHER COAT.

This is a story about the Taylors Leatherwear Model 4497Z Overcoat. This beautiful coat is a 3/4 length leather coat that retails for $429, regularly.  This item is also an approved NOPD uniform item.  Only certain people are allowed to wear it as a uniform item, but any officer should be allowed to buy it.  Let's have a look at it:

(01/02/2014)

WHY IS A.P.E. SUING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS OVER THE UNIFORM CONTRACT?

The Prices (Part 3)

Happy New Year!  We hope you have as great a 2014 as we hope to have!

Just a quick post to cover one more aspect of what A.P.E. believes is a serious issue with the prices provided (or lack thereof) on the Signal 26 bid.  Remember that the bid was put together like this: