Friday, May 23, 2025, 11:57AM |  50°
MENU
Advertisement

Firm cleared of violating bid process for artificial turf

Firm cleared of violating bid process for artificial turf

State Auditor General Jack Wagner has found no wrongdoing by the company that installed artificial turf last year at Seneca Valley School District's football field.

A review by Mr. Wagner's office found that Sprinturf, headquartered near Philadelphia, did not violate the competitive bidding process by submitting a bid to Seneca Valley and later sending a letter that said the district might be eligible for a $320,000 discount on the $640,000 cost.

The company said the discount might be possible through what it called a Marketing Brand Awareness program.

Advertisement

Seneca Valley awarded the contract to Sprinturf and paid the company $640,000 to install the turf. The district did not receive a discount.

Sprinturf officials later said the money was not available and that Seneca Valley would be put on a list with another school district to receive the discount, if and when money became available.

State legislators later asked the state auditor general to look into the matter, school board members said.

In a letter to Seneca Valley that school board President Dean Berkebile read at the Sept. 11 board meeting, Mr. Wagner said the company had been cleared of any wrongdoing. The letter said four other Pennsylvania school districts had received similar bids from Sprinturf that included the discount written into the official bid, and those districts had hired the company based on the discount.

Advertisement

At the time Seneca Valley was deciding on the contract, district solicitor Matt Hoffman advised board members that they were not to consider the discount in their decision because it was not part of the official bid and only the offer on the table could legally be considered.

The district had received lower bids for the work, but district Athletic Director Greg Caprara suggested Sprinturf's product was superior and that the company that had offered the lower bid did not have a satisfactory warranty.

Board members voted 6-2 to contract with Sprinturf for the work, and the turf was installed in August 2005.

First Published: September 24, 2006, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
Penn State Fayette, near Uniontown on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. One of a number of branch campuses endanger of closing.
1
news
Penn State trustees approve plan to shutter 7 branch campuses, including 3 in Western Pa.
Large windows illuminate the living room of 847 W. North Ave., North Side.
2
life
Buying Here: North Side warehouse turned industrial loft priced at $750,000
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones greets quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Seattle. The Steelers won 30-23.
3
sports
5 storylines to follow during Steelers OTAs and minicamp
Spencer Horwitz of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on May 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
4
sports
3 takeaways: Spencer Horwitz hits first homer in Pirates loss to Brewers
Just four years after key neighborhoods powered Mayor Ed Gainey's upset victory, some of those same areas swung their support to his challenger, Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor.
5
news
Looking at the maps: Voting breakdown shows Gainey’s defeat in primary marked by deep divides
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story