New regent’s company Seneca approved as vendor for Iowa universities

Gov. Kim Reynolds in June appointed JC Risewick to fill a emptiness on the Board of Regents — which governs the College of Iowa, Iowa State College and the College of Northern Iowa.

A overview by The Gazette discovered the UI spent or dedicated to spend a complete of $125,899 with Des Moines-based Seneca during the last three years — earlier than Risewick’s appointment.

A letter the Board of Regents Workplace despatched Risewick on Monday outlining a plan for college contracting with Seneca going ahead signifies he cannot have entry to data relating to any proposed transaction with a regent establishment “that isn’t in any other case accessible to the general public.”

“Moreover, in your function as a member of the Board of Regents, you shall not take part in any discussions or choices relating to a proposed transaction involving Seneca Firms, Inc. and a regent establishment,” in keeping with the letter.

The place UI, for instance, usually does not need to publicly bid work underneath $50,000, a “battle of curiosity vendor” triggers a decrease threshold.

“The bid threshold for accredited battle of curiosity distributors is $2,000,” in keeping with the board letter. “Due to this fact, all transactions for an quantity larger than or equal to $2,000 are required to be competitively bid earlier than an order might be positioned with your corporation.”

Moreover, state regulation requires a disclosure type to be filed with the Iowa Ethics and Marketing campaign Disclosure Board inside 20 days of a regent establishment transaction with Seneca.

“The board workplace will present help and help within the well timed completion and submitting of this disclosure type,” in keeping with the letter.

Different guidelines that apply for battle of curiosity distributors:

— Work can’t start and items cannot be shipped with out a buy order quantity or an expert companies settlement and corresponding buy order, signed by a chief procurement officer;

— No funds might be made with out a licensed buy order;

— Universities cannot use procurement playing cards to pay battle of curiosity distributors, whatever the quantity.

Risewick has served as Seneca president since 2017, chief working officer since 2016, and vp of gross sales since 2013, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile. In whole, Risewick has spent greater than 16 years with Seneca, which his father Chris Risewick based in 1972.

Lots of the UI funds to Seneca — serving the petroleum and fuel-systems business — have been for facilities-related upkeep, repairs and installations on campus.

ISU’s modest purchases previously have been for components and repairs.