Board approves master job order contract submissions; trustees discuss vendor rotation and procurement outreach

The board approved submission of the district's master job order contracts for facilities work on April 8.

Chief of District Operations Mark Miranda presented the item and explained the contracts come through cooperatives. During discussion trustees raised questions about how small local vendors can access district business and how often the district solicits for services. Trustee Adams described a local printer who said he had been told he would need to wait multiple years to do business with the district. District staff explained that some solicitations are set up as multi‑year contracts (often five years with renewal options) and that cooperative purchasing arrangements also control which vendors are qualified for specific contract commodities. Staff said vendors who register on the district "doing business with" portal and indicate a commodity (for example, printing) receive direct notifications when a solicitation is posted.

Trustees pressed staff to ensure outreach reaches smaller local businesses and minority‑owned vendors. Staff said the solicitation schedule and whether multiple awardees are qualified depends on the commodity; administration committed to looking up the specific vendor example and sharing details with trustees.

The board chair called the vote; the motion carried (board recorded "The motion carries" and later a tally was read with five in favor, four opposed and one abstention). Administration will finalize contract submissions and continue procurement outreach.