Security companies fight over multi-million dollar Kern County contract

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)– An ongoing battle between TransWest and Allied Universal played out in public at the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday over a $7 million security contract.

The contract is for providing security detail in county buildings.

County employees recommended to supervisors that Allied Universal take the contract. Workers and representatives for TransWest, the former company under the contract, came to protest that recommendation.

District 3 supervisor Jeff Flores was not present, so the board decided to postpone a decision to Sept. 10. That way, each supervisor can have a say and make a more informed vote.

Seats were lined with people wearing TransWest T-shirts, and a section reserved for Allied Universal, both stating their cases as to why they should be rewarded with the job of providing security for Kern County.

Both sides made fiery remarks during the session.

“Allied the multinational company, it appears that no evaluation was done as to what appears to be their reputation in the industry, for lack of training and ability to staff new contracts,” said Dustin Dodgin, an attorney for TransWest.

Tad Garabedian, an Allied Universal employee that works with securing government contracts said, “It was kind of a smokescreen, there were numbers that he changed to change scoring, I mean that is just completely contrary to the way the public procurement process works.”

Each company needs a majority vote — 3 or more in order to award the contract. After a brief recess, it was time for the county to decide who to choose.

District 5 Supervisor Leticia Perez chose Allied.

“I will make a motion on staff’s recommendation to award this contract to Allied,” Perez said. “I am hopeful that these are signs about Kern County’s progress and its evolution.”

Dodgin, wanted a resolution on the contract Tuesday.

“Certainly disappointed that this matter was not brought to resolution today, but very pleased with the information that was presented to the board.”

In a statement from Allied Universal, the company said over 460 of their employees work in Kern County and that they look forward to a positive partnership with Kern County in the future.

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