The Rockingham County Commission on Dec. 23 postponed awarding a janitorial and housekeeping contract after three bidders answered commissioners’ questions about staffing, chemicals, insurance and the scope of semiannual deep cleaning.

Representatives from CNM Cleaning (on the record as Mr. Sparrow), Star Building Services (Hans Familia and Jonathan Garcia) and American Facilities Professionals (Jamika Spencer and colleagues) each described staffing plans and service approaches but gave different estimates of nightly and daytime man‑hours. CNM’s representative said the current plan was “around 10 man hours per day.” Star Building Services proposed a staffing plan that would provide approximately 18 hours per night through a combination of day and evening staff. American Facilities said its bid was based on one daytime and one night staff in its original proposal but that it could flex to two daytime and two night staff and provided hourly rates for add‑on tasks.

Commissioners and county staff pressed vendors for missing documentation required in the RFP: safety data sheets for cleaning chemicals (SDS), explicit acknowledgement of the non‑appropriations clause and indemnification wording, and proof of insurance coverage. Star and American Facilities said they would provide SDS sheets and certificates of insurance. CNM said it could supply necessary insurance language and discussed how it handles heavier tasks such as hauling trash to a remote dumpster and potential lift rental for high windows.

Jamika Spencer said American Facilities had included SDS screenshots in its proposal and provided a certificate of insurance listing the county as a certificate holder; she said the company could supply more detail on semiannual carpet and window cleaning costs. “We are prepared with 5 full time staff members and ready to background check and establish more as needed to ensure that we have sufficient coverage for the building,” Spencer said.

County staff also reiterated the requirement that all after‑hours vendor personnel undergo background checks; vendors agreed that specific individuals would be identified for clearance. After discussion, a motion to table the award until next week was made and seconded so commissioners would have time to review the additional documentation.

No award was made at the meeting; commissioners instructed staff to collect SDS documents, insurance certificates, staffing confirmations and detailed pricing for semiannual services before the next meeting.