Contractor criticizes bid process; district awards RWE roof and HVAC contract to Lima Roofing

The Hot Springs County School District No. 1 board voted to award the RWE roof and HVAC contract to Lima Roofing Incorporated after hearing from a local roofing contractor who said his company had been rejected on technical grounds despite being the low bidder.

The motion to approve the award — amended during the meeting to explicitly name Lima Roofing as the awardee and to note that Engineering Associates had recommended the bid — passed on a voice vote. Chair (Speaker 2) and several trustees said they relied on the engineering recommendation and state review in taking the action.

During public comment, a contractor identifying himself as Tyler Jones criticized the district’s bid review process. “We’ve been lowest bidder here two years in a row,” he said, arguing his firm’s fluid-applied roofing system offered a seamless installation and long-term savings. He told trustees his approach would have produced “a 30-year warranty” and claimed his method could save districts “$640,000 in savings” on comparable projects.

Trustees discussed technical concerns raised by the district’s engineering consultant, including damaged insulation and drainage crickets that need replacement beneath the current system. A trustee said the board could pursue additional dialogue with Engineering Associates and the state after the vote to better understand why some bids were judged nonconforming.

The award follows routine procurement steps noted in the board packet and the district’s reliance on engineering expertise for complex facility projects. Trustees thanked the public commenter for raising questions and said they intend to seek further information about the evaluation criteria going forward.

The board’s decision completes the formal procurement action for the RWE roof and HVAC project; the contract award will be handled as outlined in the published invitation to bid and the state’s recommendation.