Finance committee approves three contracts and two license agreements

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Finance Committee approved three contract actions and two license agreements during a regularly scheduled meeting, the Chair said.

The committee voted to amend a telecommunications contract with Boldeen Networks for Central Connecticut State University, increasing its maximum value to $2,900,000 and extending the agreement to June 30, 2028, according to the presenter. The presenter said the amendment added $582,061 to the contract and that the work was sourced through an RFP.

The committee also approved an amendment to a custodial-services contract with Service Management Group for Central Connecticut State University. The presenter reported the amendment “adds $9,500,000,000” and that the total contract “now equals in total $41,500,000” and extends through June 30, 2028; the transcript figures appear inconsistent, and the committee did not provide a corrected figure during the meeting.

Members approved a 20-year energy services contract between CT State Housatonic and VFS LLC to install a fuel cell system, with a stated contract value of $8,114,640. The presenter said the fuel cell is expected to generate annual savings of about $240,000 and roughly $4,800,000 over the 20-year life of the agreement.

Two license agreements were approved. One permits CT State Quinnipaug Valley to use Tortelette High School in the town of Thompson to deliver adult welding classes; the presenter described the license as cost-reimbursement, delivered in partnership with the Eastern Workforce Investment Group, renewable annually for up to five years. The other is a five-year license with Celico partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, allowing antenna placement on a tower at Western Connecticut State’s Westside campus; the presenter said the five-year value is $156,121 (about $30,000 per year with a 2% escalation clause) and that there are three five-year renewal options.

The presenter also reported two informational contracts provided under exception in board policy: a four-year electricity supply agreement with Direct Energy Business LLC estimated at about $8,200,000 annually (through April 2030) and an Action Air Systems contract valued at about $2,600,000 to replace the HVAC system at Western Connecticut State’s O’Neil Athletic Center. The presenter said the electricity sourcing used a reverse auction.

All action items on the agenda were approved by voice vote; the meeting then moved into executive session “in accordance with the transcript-quoted Connecticut General Statute Section 1 dash 2 0 6 e” to discuss preliminary drafts and notes, and the Chair stated no votes would be taken while in executive session. The committee reconvened only to adjourn.

No roll-call vote tallies were announced in the meeting transcript and the presenter’s figures for one custodial contract amendment appear inconsistent; the committee did not provide additional detail during the public portion of the meeting. The Chair read a list of staff and officials to join executive session but gave no further public detail about its subject matter.