Board approves sole-source purchase route for LED retrofit, citing SB 1149 and Energy Trust incentives

The Newberg School District board, acting as the local contract review board, approved findings of fact authorizing a special procurement (sole-source equipment) to purchase SLG LED lighting fixtures through local vendor Pacific Lamp. The motion, made by a board member and seconded, passed with the board recording the vote as 6-0.

Staff and project consultants said the step responds to a new state restriction on sale of fluorescent bulbs and leverages two primary funding sources: Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) incentives and SB 1149 public-purpose charge funds (revenue from PGE) that the district has accumulated. "One of the advantages... is their expertise in both lighting and working with ETO and getting us the incentives and the proper fixtures that we need," said Emile Hamid, the district's owner's representative on bond projects.

Presenters stressed the request was for equipment only; labor and installation will be competitively bid. Staff said a pilot mock-up at Antonio Crater produced positive teacher feedback and that the first-install estimated cost for that building is roughly $90,000; district projections anticipate ETO and SB 1149 reimbursements will cover the bulk of that amount, with a district contribution for equipment in the packet (approximately $30,000 for the initial site as presented). The district has about $400,000 available in the SB 1149 fund, staff said.

Board members discussed timing (staff aim for a three-year phase to complete schools before the 2030 restriction), the technical controls (Bluetooth-enabled fixtures and integrated sensors), and teacher control and usability. Staff committed to bringing final cost approvals back to the board before purchase and to competitively bid the labor component.

The motion authorized staff to proceed with the sole-source equipment procurement process; no equipment purchase costs were approved at the meeting itself.