In the letter below from ACE Printing & Mailing of Berlin, owner Thom Gulyas expresses his extreme dismay and disappointment in how the OPA Board of Directors and Election Committee Chairman Steve Ransdell undermined the committee vote to select ACE as the OPA Election Contractor for the upcoming board election.

The letter is a brutal review of Gulyas' anger at how he and his company were treated. 

Dear Ocean Pines Board of Directors and Election Committee,

ACE Printing & Mailing appreciates the opportunity to have submitted a comprehensive and responsive proposal to your RFP for the 2025 election services. We have conducted ourselves with full transparency, professionalism, and respect for the procurement process as outlined by the Ocean Pines Association (OPA).

After reviewing the video and transcript of your recent Board meeting discussion, we must express serious concerns regarding the evolving nature of the selection process and the apparent deviation from the requirements set forth in the original RFP .

It is clear that multiple requests and conditions now being placed upon ACE Printing were not included in the original RFP issued on March 1, 2025. Specifically:

•Providing client references for prior HOA elections was not required or requested.

•Demonstrating a functioning online voting portal prior to a contract award was not required.

•Ownership of ballot scanning equipment was not specified as mandatory in the RFP , although we already own such equipment.

•Expanded service expectations beyond those specifically outlined — such as unrequested guarantees about the internal development status of custom voting systems and undisclosed third-party partnerships — were not part of the original solicitation.

•Public questioning of ACE’s business model and service offerings by the election Chairman beyond the RFP scope was neither appropriate nor relevant to the evaluation criteria defined in the RFP .

•Acceptance of an unsolicited, late bid by the election Chairman from another vendor after the official RFP deadline fundamentally undermined the fairness and ntegrity of the sealed bid process and disadvantaged compliant bidders such as ACE Printing.

•Violation of confidentiality requirements: Despite the RFP’s clear provision that  all proposals were to remain confidential to protect proprietary information, theOcean Pines Progress newspaper published details of the submitted RFP responses prior to any official award decision.

This breach of confidentiality further erodes trust in the fairness and security of this process. It is deeply troubling that the same Board now demands ACE Printing provide confidential client references, when the Association has already demonstrated it cannot guarantee the protection of sensitive information. ACE Printing has a duty to protect the privacy of its clients and will not subject them to unnecessary risk by providing such information under these circumstances.

It is also important to address specific conduct observed during the April 2025 Board meeting itself. Board Member Farr characterized concerns about ACE Printing as a potential "red flag" — yet the far more serious "red flag" remains the Board’s failure to maintain the confidentiality of vendor submissions, directly violating the RFP terms and exposing bidders' proprietary information to the public.

Additionally, during the same meeting, a sitting Board member improperly attempted to re-open the Elections Committee’s recommendation by publicly asking the Committee Chair which vendor he would “lean toward” if deciding today. This was wholly inappropriate, undermined the committee process, introduced undue influence in a public forum, and compromised the neutrality required during vendor selection procedures. Such behavior highlights the breakdown of the procurement integrity principles the Board itself is charged with upholding.

Furthermore, while client references were never requested, it should be noted that ACE Printing & Mailing has successfully handled dozens and dozens of election and referendum mailings for the Ocean Pines Association itself over the past 25 years — without a single issue.

When the Election Committee secured a different vendor for the 2024 election, and that vendor failed to deliver printed election materials to homeowners in a timely manner, the Association turned immediately to ACE Printing & Mailing to resolve the crisis. Without hesitation, ACE Printing printed, delivered, and mailed urgent notification postcards to the entire HOA membership — accomplishing this within less than 18 hours — ensuring Ocean Pines could communicate effectively with its residents and maintain the integrity of the election timeline. This performance, under pressure and without prior notice, demonstrates ACE Printing’s unwavering reliability, speed, and commitment to Ocean Pines.

For nearly thirty years, my favorite part of serving Ocean Pines wasn’t just the printing and mailing — it was the people.Every election season brought a new opportunity to meet individuals from every walk of life — rocket scientists, entrepreneurs, State Department employees, Bell Telephone pioneers, economists, lawyers, and so many others whose talents and stories enriched our community.

Some of these colleagues became dear friends. Others left behind lessons, memories, and a deep respect for the kind of people that Ocean Pines attracts.

I often thought someone should have written a book capturing the rich experiences shared around those committee tables. Sadly, many of these remarkable people are now gone — but the spirit they embodied, the commitment to fairness and service, remains the foundation of why I have been proud to serve the OPA community for so long.

It is also worth noting that the financial implications of the Board's actions cannot be ignored. ACE Printing & Mailing submitted a fully compliant bid in the amount of $18,685, while MK Elections’ bid was substantially higher at $31,539 — representing an increase of nearly $13,000 to the homeowners of Ocean Pines.

We respectfully question how the Board intends to explain or justify such a significant cost differential to its membership, particularly when the lower-cost bidder has an uninterrupted 25-year record of flawless election service to the Association. The expectation of fiduciary responsibility and stewardship of OPA member funds should be paramount in any procurement decision, and the disregard of this basic principle further erodes confidence in the current process.

At ACE Printing & Mailing, we operate on the foundation of trust, proven performance, and professional integrity. When we give our word, we stand behind it fully — and our reputation has been built on decades of consistently delivering results for Ocean Pines and other valued clients. 

Final Closing

ACE Printing & Mailing fully reserves all rights to seek immediate injunctive relief, file a formal bid protest, and pursue all legal avenues available should this procurement process continue to deviate from the standards set forth in the RFP and applicable law.

In light of the serious procedural irregularities and breaches already identified, we expect prompt corrective action from the Board to restore compliance with the original RFP requirements and to ensure all vendors are treated equitably and fairly moving forward.

However, given the cumulative procedural irregularities, shifting requirements, confidentiality breaches, and demonstrable bias exhibited during this process, ACE Printing & Mailing formally withdraws all consideration from this RFP and disassociates from any further involvement under OPA’s current, tainted framework.

We categorically reject any continued participation in a procurement exercise that so plainly violates the fundamental standards of fairness, transparency, and professional ethics.

ACE Printing & Mailing stands by its longstanding record of integrity and performance — and will not lend credibility to a flawed and compromised selection process.

We will instead continue to align ourselves exclusively with organizations who value professional standards and honor their commitments.

Sincerely,

Thom Gulyas

President, ACE Printing & Mailing