School board approves qualified bid for David Crockett High cooler and freezer

The Washington County School Board voted to award a bid for a mobile cooler and freezer at David Crockett High School after staff said one of two bidders did not meet minimum requirements.

According to a staff member presenting the item, the district received two bids but determined that “one bidder of the two bidders was not qualified based on the fact they don't have a Tennessee license” and that the other bidder “did not visit the site” and signaled possible additional charges if they later did so. Board member Blair moved to accept the qualified bid; an unnamed board member seconded the motion and the motion carried.

Board members and staff framed the decision as a procurement and operational matter for school nutrition. The cost cited in the motion on the record was read aloud by Blair during the meeting; the transcript contained a fragmented dollar figure as read into the record. A staff member confirmed the purchase would come from the school nutrition budget.

The board’s action followed a rebid process: staff said the board had asked for a second round of bids after only one bidder responded to the first solicitation. The disqualified bid was rejected because it lacked a Tennessee license and did not meet the district’s stated minimum requirements, staff said. Staff also told the board that the remaining bidder submitted pricing that the presentation characterized as more transparent and that the bidder had lowered its earlier offer.

One board member on the record said they remained opposed to the purchase but voted for the motion to avoid being the lone dissenter. The board did not record a roll-call vote showing individual yes/no tallies in the public transcript.

The board did not take additional actions tied to this item; staff did not identify required follow-up tasks or external approvals for this purchase during the discussion.