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Bradley County Schools board selects Pritchard Industries for janitorial contract; board to negotiate contract terms
Summary
After a multi-month bid process and committee review, the Bradley County Board of Education voted to approve Pritchard Industries as the district's janitorial services contractor. The selection followed committee concerns about capacity and references for the lowest bid and discussion of employee retention benefits offered by Pritchard.
The Bradley County Board of Education voted to approve Pritchard Industries as the district’s janitorial services contractor and authorized district staff to negotiate contract details, the board decided at its April 2025 regular meeting.
The board’s janitorial committee — which reviewed 15 bids received during a procurement process that began in October — recommended Pritchard after members evaluated submissions using a rubric that included cost analysis, industry experience, educational facilities experience, financial and management capability, and references.
Amanda Lee, a board member who participated on the committee, said the decision was not based on the lowest bid alone. She told the board that the lowest bidder’s documentation contained “discrepancies in the overall summary total” and that its hourly rates and largest prior contract (about $284,000) raised concerns about its capacity to service the district’s much larger portfolio. "We felt like they were fully —" Lee said of Pritchard, noting the company serves many school systems and large facilities.
Committee members described Pritchard’s employee benefits package — including tuition reimbursement, 401(k) options and health benefits — as a factor supporting retention and operational stability.
Board members asked about transition and oversight. District staff said Pritchard would assign a project manager/supervisor and use a technology reporting system to log issues and responses; staff indicated a planned contract effective date of June 1 with a roughly four-week transition period. The board emphasized that tonight’s vote selected the company only; the final contract and the precise service option and budget allocations will return for district approval after negotiations.
The motion to approve Pritchard Industries passed on a roll call vote of 7–0.
The board also noted the incumbent vendor agreed to assist with a transition if the contract moves forward.
