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Contractor raises procurement complaint at Polk school board meeting over awarded fire-safety contract
Summary
A local fire-protection business told the board it believes the district awarded a fire-safety services contract to a company that lacks the required Class A license and that subcontracting provisions were not followed; district staff did not act during the meeting.
A Polk County business owner told the school board during public comment on July 29 that the district's procurement award for fire-extinguisher and kitchen-hood suppression services was improperly made to a company that does not meet licensing requirements.
Joshua Borum, owner of Borham Fire Protection, said his company holds a Class A license and that the awardee, FFP Fire, holds only a Class C license and therefore does not meet the bid requirement that "bidder must have a Class A license." Borum said the contract documents prohibit subcontracting and that he had been told FFP planned to use a partner to perform work it was not licensed to perform.
Borum told the board FFP operates from a residential garage, has only two permitted technicians and has been in business fewer than two years. He said he had raised the concerns with procurement staff, Superintendent Hyde and the district attorney and provided documentation; he requested the board's attention to correct the award. The board did not take immediate action during public comment; Borum said he would follow up by email and with district staff.
Nut graf: The speaker alleged noncompliance with licensing and solicitation terms for a contract award; the district did not respond with a formal action at the meeting, and the matter remains a procurement dispute to be resolved through staff follow-up.
Ending: The complaint was presented during public comment; board members did not vote or direct immediate corrective action on the record during the meeting.
