Board approves HVAC and athletic construction contracts for DeRidder, final acceptance steps for South Boulevard

Beauregard Parish school committees on Nov. 10 approved several construction and equipment contracts covering HVAC and athletic facilities.

Procurement staff recommended awarding the DeRidder High chiller replacement contract to Blanchard Mechanical with a base bid of $228,600 after the apparent low bidder was disqualified for failing to submit required bid documents. A procurement presenter explained the disqualification was document-based and that bid specifications required specific forms; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

The committee also approved a $1,735,000 base bid with an alternate of $172,000 (total $1,907,000) to T3 Global Projects for DeRidder High’s football field improvements, which include turf installation and a full track rebuild. Facilities staff explained the difference between a resurface and a full rebuild, saying resurfacing would extend life by roughly five years while a full rebuild addresses subsurface fracturing and would last an estimated 15 years. "So this 1.9 is a total rebuild of the track ground up," the facilities presenter said.

Separately, staff recommended preliminary acceptance and initiation of the final payment process for South Boulevard High’s athletic facilities after punch-list work and a recent fire marshal approval; the committee voted to accept that recommendation.

All motions for the above items passed by voice vote. Staff said final contract paperwork and closeout steps will follow before final disbursements are made.

What’s next: Procurement and facilities staff will complete contract closeout procedures and verify submittals so final payments can be processed. The district said it will proceed with construction coordination and schedule updates with awarded contractors.