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Texarkana board approves $43,522 Ingram Park shade structure after procurement questions
Summary
The board authorized a $43,522.53 purchase from ACS Playground Adventures for a shade structure at Ingram Park using Sourcewell, a government buy board; two directors voted no and asked for more transparency on competing vendors and selection criteria.
The Texarkana Board of Directors on June 1 authorized the city manager to sign a purchase agreement with ACS Playground Adventures for a shade structure at Ingram Park, at a total cost of $43,522.53 funded from the Community Development Block Grant public facilities line item.
Director Jewell asked the board to explain why staff used Sourcewell — a government purchasing cooperative — instead of soliciting local competitive bids. "I would like to know what those other options they looked at," Jewell said, pressing staff for documentation of competing vendors and prices. The city manager said the Sourcewell process includes public requests for proposals and scoring criteria and that Sourcewell contracts are permitted under state law. "The way that Sourcewell works is ... they ensure that their bidding process meets many ... states and government entities' bidding requirements," the city manager said, explaining that Sourcewell compiles vendor quotes and evaluates proposals on price, experience and quality.
Staff described the purchase as a full engineered installation — including drilled piers and concrete footings — and said in‑house crews were not considered able to perform the work safely or cost‑effectively. The resolution read into the record noted the purchase would be acquired through Sourcewell and that bidding was not required for the procurement.
On the roll call vote the resolution passed with five votes in favor and two opposed; the minutes record two directors voting no. The board approved the action after the city attorney read the resolution.
The board record and Sourcewell solicitation materials were identified by staff as public; Director Jewell said she would accept a link to those documents for review. The city did not attach additional competitive bid documents to the item on the dais.
The board's action allows staff to finalize the contract and proceed with installation; staff said public works will provide site details and oversight for construction.
