Johnson County commissioners on Oct. 2 approved a one-year increase of $4,080,000 in contract authority for term-and-supply furniture contracts to furnish the new Health Services Building, raising aggregate authority to $7,080,000 for the contract term that ends Nov. 14, 2026 (per IFB 2022-063). The motion passed 6–1.

Why it matters: Facilities staff said the request covers bulk purchases and scheduling tied to bringing the Health Services Building on line. Lydia Travis, facilities management, told the board that the existing term-and-supply contracts include tiered discounts and that “the contract that we have today offers about 60% of the manufacturers showing multi tiered discounting,” enabling deeper discounts at higher volume.

Public comment and questions: Public commenter Ben Hobert asked whether briefing materials specified which budget line would pay for the furniture and whether serviceable existing furniture would be reused. “The request is for an increase in furniture purchase authority, but nowhere does a briefing sheet indicate which budgetary line item gets hit with the expenditure,” Hobert said. Travis replied the furniture line is part of the Health Services Building budgeted project and that the increase is a one-time bump limited to the November 2025–November 2026 contract term; annual contract authority would return to earlier levels after the term.

Board discussion and vote: Commissioners emphasized procurement timing and product quality. Commissioner Fast urged durable fabrics and longevity; Commissioner Hanslick noted cost savings from using existing contracts rather than rebidding. Commissioner Ashcraft voted no, arguing a sealed-bid procurement could produce deeper discounts and questioning whether manufacturers could offer 70–75% discounts if put in competitive bids. The final roll call was 6–1 in favor.

Contract details: The motion authorized a contract authority increase for multiple suppliers under IFB 2022-063 (third renewal option term) in the amount of $4,080,000 for an aggregate authority not to exceed $7,080,000 through Nov. 14, 2026. Staff said the increase is limited to the upcoming term and not a permanent change to annual authority.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with purchasing under the increased authority for the specified term, seek deeper discounts where possible under existing contracts, and return future budget/contract authority levels to normal after the one-year term.