Paperwork slows down cove efforts

Paul Clinton

CRYSTAL COVE -- In their efforts to implement an interim plan in the

historic district, California State Parks officials have hit a snag.

The agency is facing a delay in the hiring of a security firm after

the leading firm submitted an incomplete application, officials said.

Now, the state is starting from scratch, reopening the bidding process

for the $90,000 contract.

Scaife Protection Services, based in Lawndale, was initially selected

as the company that would provide round-the-clock surveillance of the 46

cottages in the historic district of Crystal Cove State Park.

The company was in line for a one-year contract, according to Mike

Tope, the supervisor of the Orange Coast District, which includes the

park.

In the heat of competition, a second firm challenged Scaife’s

application as incomplete. Upon review, the claim by Security Protection

Management turned out to be valid, Tope said. State Parks officials

noticed several forms from the company’s application package that had not

been filled out.

“They forgot to fill out some forms,” Tope said.

Omar Scaife, who founded the company, didn’t see it quite the same way

and defended his application.

“Our paperwork was accurate,” Scaife said. “State Parks just wanted to

make everybody happy. Let’s reopen [the bidding], and go from square

one.”

More than 30 firms have submitted bids for the job, Tope said. The

state is hoping to hire one of the companies by Sept. 1.

Oddly enough, Scaife is already being paid by State Parks for security

work at the cove. The firm was hired on an interim basis July 1. That

contract will expire at the end of the month.

In the request for proposals, State Parks is asking for two officers

to monitor the historic district while the agency works to implement its

interim plan to protect the cottages from deterioration.

“The state is going for the lowest bidder,” Scaife said. “In my

opinion, they’re cheap.”

Tope said he wasn’t worried about the delay. The firm will bridge the

gap while the state hammers out a permanent solution to what should be

done with the historic district. The tenants who lived in the cottages

and held leases with the state left July 8.

Tope said he wasn’t worried about the district being left unprotected,

with Scaife and a handful of park rangers constantly monitoring the

property.

“The area has been protected,” Tope said. “We intend to have a

seamless transition.”

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .