The Southern County School Board on Oct. 2 voted to reject a single bid received for a five-school cafeteria furnishings package because the lone bid exceeded the board’s budget, and the board authorized re-advertising for a cafeteria furnishings package at Lewisburg High School.

A staff member told the board they had received only one bid for five cafeteria furnishings packages and that the cost exceeded the budgeted amount; based on that information, the staff recommendation was to reject the bid. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote. The motion record in the meeting transcript records the recommendation, a motion and a second and the board voting "Aye." No roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

The board then approved a staff recommendation to re-advertise for bids on the Lewisburg High School cafeteria furnishings package. The motion for permission to advertise passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The board also moved to adopt a new procurement policy, DJEDD (bid protest). Staff said the policy outlines the district’s bid-protest process and was presented to the board on Sept. 18; staff reported there were no public comments at that presentation and recommended adoption. The board adopted the policy by voice vote.

Discussion vs. action: The actions were formal board decisions to reject the bid, re-advertise for one site, and adopt the DJEDD bid-protest policy. The meeting transcript shows motions and voice approvals; specific mover/second names were not recorded in the portion of the transcript provided.

Closing note: The actions set the procurement process back to advertising for competitive bids and establish a formal bid-protest policy for future solicitations.