Queen Anne's County board approves generator replacement for Kent Island High School

The Queen Anne's County Public Schools Board of Education convened on April 22, 2025, to discuss critical action items, including the urgent need for a generator replacement at Kent Island High School. Daryl Bariclo, the supervisor of facilities and design, presented the details of the project, emphasizing the existing generator's age of over 20 years and its recent catastrophic failure.

Bariclo explained that the bid documents for the generator replacement were prepared in-house and made available online and through the e Maryland marketplace on January 22, 2025. The project involves replacing the old generator with a new 150-kilowatt unit that will connect to the school's existing infrastructure. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on February 14, where administrative requirements were discussed with potential bidders.

On February 25, seven bids were submitted, and the bids were publicly opened and read aloud. Bariclo sought approval to award the contract to Eastern Sales and Engineering Company, which included a bid alternate for 12 months of service maintenance on the new generator for a total of $76,060.

The urgency of the situation was highlighted during the discussion, as Bariclo noted that while a rental generator is currently in use, the approval for the new generator is critical due to a 14-week lead time for delivery. He stressed that delaying the decision could lead to a rebid process, complicating the timeline further.

The board members were invited to ask questions regarding the proposal, underscoring the importance of timely action to ensure the school's operational reliability. The meeting concluded with a focus on the necessity of moving forward with the generator replacement to avoid further complications.