Hart County awards bids for senior meals, sports uniforms and photography; commissioners call for clearer specs to include local vendors

The Hart County Board of Commissioners approved a series of procurement recommendations on May 13, awarding the senior-center meal contract and vendor contracts for football uniforms and football photography.

Commissioners approved the planning staff recommendation for the senior-center meal contract, with Commissioner Brown moving and Commissioner Teasley seconding; the motion passed 5-0.

The board also approved the recommendation to accept "Go Sports" (identified in the record as the low bidder) for football uniforms after discussion and a motion by Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Teasley; that vote was recorded as 5-0. The rec-advisory board's recommendation for football photography was approved on a separate motion.

During the uniform bid discussion, one commissioner raised procurement fairness concerns and urged the county to specify a common brand in future bid specifications so local vendors without access to proprietary imported goods can compete on an even footing. "We need to have everybody bidding on the same brand, not the equivalent of this or equivalent of that," the commissioner said, adding that the board should "specify that in the bid specs next year" to ensure local businesses have a fair opportunity.

All awards were approved by unanimous votes. Commissioners asked staff to consider clearer specification language in future solicitations so that local suppliers can bid on equal terms with third-party importers.