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Strafford County awards kitchen equipment bid to Fountainhead after staff review
Summary
After reviewing bids from Hobart and CMA, county staff recommended Fountainhead (Chelmsford, Mass.) to replace two dish machines; commissioners approved the award unanimously and discussed potential pot/dish room remodeling to improve workflow.
Strafford County commissioners voted unanimously to award a contract for replacement dish machines to Fountainhead of Chelmsford, Mass., following a staff review that favored the Hobart brand and local dealer support.
Douglas, representing county administration, told commissioners the review compared machines from Hobart and CMA. Staff recommended against CMA because of concerns about dealer network breadth and ongoing service support, narrowing the procurement to two vendors: Grady’s (Minnesota) and Fountainhead (Chelmsford). Fountainhead’s bid was identified as the lower overall cost for replacing both dish machines. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the award to Fountainhead.
Officials also discussed operational changes to the kitchen’s pot and dish rooms. Riverside (a facility referenced during the review) has chosen the new machines and plans modest remodeling; county staff said the pot room and dish room are currently separated by a wall and that reorienting sinks and equipment could improve workflow, allow pots to be run through dish machines more efficiently and reduce handling time. The county noted kitchen equipment is required by regulation to be mobile (on wheels) to ease cleaning and movement.
The commissioners did not disclose contract dollar amounts at the meeting. Staff said they would record the award in the official minutes and proceed with installation planning and any necessary remodeling coordination.
