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Richland County committee awards $97,001.71 contract for courthouse boilers to Precision Controls
Summary
At a public works committee meeting, members accepted the lowest of three bids to replace two courthouse boilers and approved proceeding with Precision Controls’ $97,001.71 proposal, while directing staff to confirm asbestos and startup requirements before demolition.
The Richland County Public Works Standing Committee voted to award a contract to Precision Controls to replace two boilers at the county courthouse for $97,001.71, the committee decided at its meeting.
Committee members said the county solicited competitive quotes from three vendors and judged Precision Controls’ bid the lowest that met the county’s specifications. Highway department staff described the bids in detail and recommended Precision Controls based on price and prior service history with the county.
County staff said quotes received included: Precision Controls, $97,001.71; ASAP (Spring Green), about $101,000; and Thermodynamics, with two options — about $141,000 (copper tubing/modular burner option) and about $166,000 (cast-iron option). Members said the Thermodynamics higher figure reflected a cast-iron boiler option intended to match the county’s existing equipment.
The committee discussed multiple non-price issues before the vote, including:
- Asbestos: Staff reported an asbestos abatement survey had been performed previously for the building but said committee members wanted records reviewed before work begins. Committee members asked that the county verify whether asbestos-containing materials remain, and if abatement is required how that would be handled and budgeted. According to staff, the project proposal states that any asbestos abatement would be the county’s responsibility. The committee asked for documented records before demolition.
- Factory startup and warranty: Members asked that factory startup be included; staff said factory startup was included in the bids. No explicit warranty details were listed in the bid documents provided at the meeting.
- Controls compatibility: Members questioned whether new boilers would interoperate with the courthouse’s original pneumatic controls and whether upgrades to a DDC (direct-digital-control) system might be necessary as a separate future project. Staff said the boilers’ onboard controls and standard modulating burners would operate under the current pneumatic control approach and that vendors had inspected the site to confirm fit and operation.
- Procurement transparency: A committee member asked whether the county’s procurement policy requirement for a Class 2 notice (for purchases exceeding $175,000) applied; staff said the estimated cost was below that threshold and three vendors were solicited.
When put to a vote, the motion to approve Precision Controls’ bid carried. Committee records show a second was recorded (Gary). No contract number or formal resolution number was provided at the meeting; staff said final contract paperwork would follow.
The committee asked staff to obtain and circulate the plant’s asbestos records, to confirm lead time (reported as about six weeks for the selected model), and to ensure factory startup documentation is included in the scope of work so that warranty coverage is preserved.
Votes at a glance
- Motion: Award courthouse boiler replacement contract to Precision Controls for $97,001.71. Outcome: approved. Mover: not specified. Second: Gary. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.
The county will return with contract documents and any required follow-up paperwork after verifying the asbestos report and confirming schedule and factory-startup procedures.
