Housing authority approves cleaning, plumbing and electrical supply contracts

The Affordable Housing Authority voted unanimously at its meeting to award a three‑year cleaning contract and multiple six‑month supply contracts to local vendors to support maintenance operations and speed repairs. The authority approved a three‑year contract with an optional one‑year renewal to Lydia's Cleaning Service not to exceed $103,100 for the three‑year term, and separate six‑month supply contracts not to exceed $50,000 per vendor for plumbing and electrical inventory.

The cleaning contract was presented as a three‑year award with the authority’s option to extend a fourth year. A commissioner asked whether the $103,100 was for the full three‑year term or an annual amount; the presenter confirmed the amount covers all three years. The authority also awarded six‑month vendor contracts for plumbing supplies to Wind Supply, Fall River Supply (New England Plumber Supply was named in discussion) and for electrical inventory to Electrical Wholesalers Inc., each in amounts not to exceed $50,000 for the six‑month period. All procurement motions were made and seconded and passed by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Staff explained the procurement approach is intended to keep parts on hand and allow in‑house maintenance crews to close work orders quickly. The presenter said the authority keeps internal staff — “we have 3 plumbers internally” and “we have internal electricians, 2 to be specific” — and that multiple vendors and short contract terms help maintain inventory and oversight. The authority shortened some terms from one year to six months to better match usage and supply needs. The presenter noted the authority followed required public advertising and solicitation protocols, and that locally based firms were solicited.

The procurement items are intended to support routine and emergency repairs — plumbing, electrical and unit cleanings — that affect tenants’ access to running water, toilets and other basic services. No additional financial details, individual line‑item budgets or firm‑specific pricing beyond the aggregate not‑to‑exceed amounts were provided at the meeting. The authority did not record roll‑call tallies naming each voter in the transcript; the actions were adopted after voice votes.

The awards now allow staff to execute contracts and establish purchase blankets and oversight processes described in the meeting packet. There were no amendments to the recommendations and no referrals for further study recorded during the discussion.