Macon officials are disputing claims of bias in awarding a $7.6 million contract for a new emergency radio system.
Harris Communications was recently picked to make the long-discussed upgrade to a 800 MHz wireless radio system, which is being paid for by the SPLOST approved by voters last November.
In a letter to Macon officials, Motorola, a competitor for that contract, accuses the city of using a bid process that is "fatally biased."
Attorney Hubert Lovein claims the city accepted a winning bid from Harris Communications that will cost taxpayers $1.8 million more than the Motorola bid
But city CFO Dale Walker, in a memo to city council, said the accepted Harris Communications bid is $7.6 million and Motorola's bid was $7.2 million.
Walker explained that council made an "apples-to-apples" comparison between the two, eliminating items that were not found on both proposals.
The winning contract has not yet been approved by Macon City Council but will be discussed by the Appropriations Committee on August 20.
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS:
Motorola Legal Letter
800MHz Memo to Council - 7 19 12
800 MHz Radio Bid Summary (2)