Steve Gess saved Colorado Springs taxpayers millions of dollars by driving a hard bargain and holding contractors’ feet to the fire.For that and other achievements, the city’s contracting manager is the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association manager of the year for Colorado and Wyoming.The organization recognized Gess, nominated by his staff, for his work in 2006 and 2007.”Through the competitive process, he definitely saved the city immense amounts of taxpayer dollars,” said Gess’ supervisor, Finance Director Terri Velasquez.But Gess shrugs off the honor and gives credit to his staff.”My team deserves it,” he said. “It’s not me – seriously.”Gess, a former Air Force procurement official, said the award recognizes his staff for the accomplishments noted in the nomination, among them:- Developed requests for proposals for two key projects that kept them within budget but gave the city ability to negotiate other factors. One is the $35 million Austin Bluffs Parkway and Union Boulevard interchange, to be completed in November; the other, the $10 million Cimarron bridge project, which is expected to be done in May. Both are ahead of schedule and under budget.- Helped to negotiate the city’s single largest contract in its history, $45 million over five years for fixed-route bus service.- Negotiated a reduced cost for program management of Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority capital and maintenance projects, saving the city $450,000 a year for 2006 through 2009.- Held contractors accountable. After an architectural firm made a mistake designing a police substation project that cost the city $80,000, Gess recovered $27,000, the portion deemed the architect’s share for the error.- Initiated and pursued action against a firm hired to design, build and install a transit vehicle GPS after the contractor said it couldn’t finish the job. The city was reimbursed 100 percent of the $171,000 contract amount.- Was instrumental in setting up a purchasing card program for the city that resulted in a credit card rebate of $100,000.”We’re a true team,” said Gess, who joined the city in 1998. “We don’t have a weak link. We’re probably the smallest staff in the state, so that tells you what we can do as a team. It has nothing to do with me. It’s a group thing, period.”His staff includes Lee Jenniges, Curt Decapite, Cheryl Rea, Jennifer Jones, Kelly Eliason, Loretta Eger, Sue Podczervinski and Sandy Elliott.

Steve Gess Photo by

KIRK SPEER