NIU Official dials wrong number – leaves message on getting around procurement code –

DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) –

Mistakes can be costly!

On May 15, 2014, Bill Nichlas called from an NIU phone number to talk to “Ralph” – or he thought he called Ralph – and left a message on a cell phone that appears to be discussions on how to go around the Illinois Procurement Code, you know, because it is too much of a hassle to follow the law…

Below is the audio recording from the voice mail he mistakenly left on someone else’s phone, and in it you can hear Bill Nicklas, Vice President of Administration, explaining to vendor that the vendor could use open orders to avoid “the harsh constraints of the public procurement system.”

Partial transcript of phone message: “One little bit of a down here. The possible is no longer being asked and is nearly impossible. Somehow we need to get you into an “open order status” because that’s the way that we can off-set some of the harsh constraints in the Illinois Procurement System”.

We figured this would be a good place to start, and will build on this voice mail in future articles in reference to Northern Illinois University and their procurement practices, among other things.

Enjoy!