Commission approves four procurement actions including youth intervention contracts and detention dryer replacement

Joe Thomas, Sedgwick County purchasing director, presented four items from the Board of Bids and Contracts on Jan. 9 and the commission approved the recommendations at the Jan. 15 meeting.

The contracts and awards approved were:

- Prevention/early intervention services (Department of Corrections): accepted proposals from Grama Research, Inc. (d/b/a McAdams Academy), Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, Prime Fit Youth Foundation and Seventh Direction, Inc.; term: one year (Jan. to Dec. 2025).

- Tax-foreclosure title-search services: a one-year extension (March 17, 2025–March 16, 2026) with Security First Title, LLC.

- Fire-alarm testing and inspection for county facilities: accept low bid from Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP for one year with three one-year renewal options.

- Adult detention facility laundry dryer replacements and boiler removal: accept RJ Cool Company (d/b/a RJ Cool Midwest) option 2 in the amount of $75,000.

Commissioner Jeff Howe asked why the commission selected RJ Cool’s higher-priced option instead of the lowest bid. Thomas said the apparent low bid omitted required structural work to restore the area when new equipment is installed, making that bid incomplete; the chosen option included the necessary structural work.

Commissioner Howe moved to approve the Board of Bids and Contracts recommendations; the motion was seconded and approved on roll call.

Speakers and vendor names are recorded in the public record.