Board approves three-year custodial contract with CJ Maintenance

The Southeast Delco SD Board of Directors voted June 18 to award its three‑year evening and summer custodial services contract to CJ Maintenance.

Mr. Taylor, who reviewed the submitted proposals for the board, said CJ Maintenance proposed approximately $1,348,636.03 for year one and offered 42 positions (35 custodians and seven supervisors), a cloud‑based work‑order system and supplies such as gloves and mop heads. By contrast, ServiceMaster—the district’s incumbent—submitted a roughly $1.389 million year‑one bid; Interstate Premier Services proposed a lower year‑one price but would rely heavily on auto‑scrubbers, which raised building storage and staffing questions.

“CJ has school facility experience and provided explicit staffing numbers,” Mr. Taylor said, recommending CJ Maintenance as his preferred vendor. Board members questioned how accepting a new RFP would interact with ServiceMaster’s existing three‑year renewal, and staff clarified that if the board does not approve any RFP the current renewal remains in place until June 2027.

A motion to move forward with CJ Maintenance was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; individual roll‑call votes were not recorded in the meeting transcript. The board did not record a formal payout requirement for the incumbent vendor in the transcript.

The contract and related funding will be administered from the district’s general fund. Board discussion noted that while CJ’s year‑one price sits in the middle of the bids, multi‑year price increases narrow the gap among bidders over time. Several board members also emphasized operational continuity for summer cleaning and the district’s right to exercise an out clause with the current vendor if a new contract is accepted.

The board moved on to other business after the vote; details on the finalized contract documents (including any exact multi‑year escalators and start date) were to be provided in contract paperwork and subsequent public packets.