Danbury City Board of Awards approves seven procurement items, from EAP renewal to RapidSOS and Westlaw renewals

Chip Volpe, Danbury’s purchasing agent, opened the Board of Awards meeting at 10:00 a.m. May 27 and presented seven procurement items for approval. The board voted unanimously to approve each award as presented, with most awards noted as contingent on final contract execution and, in one case, contingent on grant funds.

The most immediate budgetary item was Human Resources’ request to renew the employee assistance program (EAP) for Danbury police and fire personnel. "My name is Chip Volpe. I'm the purchasing agent," Volpe said before outlining the EAP renewal. The incumbent Employee Assistance Group offered to hold current pricing for the renewal year covering 449 employees at $20.50 per employee, for a total of $9,204.50 from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. A motion to renew the EAP contingent on contract was made, seconded by Finance Director Dan Garrick, and carried unanimously.

The board also approved a purchase order to Nevco for a multiuse scoreboard at a city field. Volpe said the Construction Services Department solicited the requisition and Nevco quoted the equipment through a government cooperative contract at a total of $36,189.61. The motion to accept the bid passed with no discussion.

Public-safety communications received attention when the Fire Department’s request for a one-year RapidSOS Unite subscription was presented. The subscription cost is $13,068 plus a $4,000 one-time implementation fee; Volpe said the total $17,068 is expected to be covered by an HDAC grant as part of the motion. The award was made contingent on agreement and grant receipt and was approved unanimously.

Paving contracts prompted two procedural actions after a vendor declined awards. Volpe reported that American Pavement Specialists notified the city on May 15 that it would decline its award for both the paving-in-place and the road paving/reclamation unit-price contracts because of an issue with the required labor and material bond. The board voted to rescind the awards to American Pavement Specialists as requested. For the paving-in-place contract, the board then moved to award to the next calculated lowest bidder, A & J Construction, contingent on contract, and approved that award. For the road paving/reclamation item the board rescinded the award but did not announce another vendor at the meeting.

The Board approved a Mutual Link panic-button system for City Hall presented by the Public Buildings Department. Volpe said the five-year quote totaled $43,408.08 with a recurring annual support cost of $8,794.88 to cover licensing, maintenance and monitoring. The motion to award was approved; Superintendent of Public Buildings Sean Hamley confirmed his assent remotely.

Finally, Corporation Counsel presented two sole-source renewal proposals from Thomson Reuters for Westlaw legal research products. The recommended 36-month Westlaw ProFlex subscription was priced at $2,450 per month (with a 5% annual increase), and a 36-month Westlaw Complete subscription was listed at $430.42 per month (with a 6% annual increase). Corporation Counsel included a sole-source justification stating the products are copyrighted and proprietary. The Board voted to renew both subscriptions contingent on the proposed agreements.

Votes at a glance - Item 1 — EAP renewal (Employee Assistance Group): Approved (motion seconded by Dan Garrick). Total: $9,204.50; period July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027; award contingent on contract. - Item 2 — Nevco scoreboard (purchase order): Approved. Total quoted cost: $36,189.61; award via government cooperative contract. - Item 3 — RapidSOS Unite subscription: Approved. Total $17,068 (includes $4,000 implementation fee); award contingent on agreement and HDAC grant funds. - Item 4 — Paving-in-place: Rescission of award to American Pavement Specialists (vendor request) approved; award to A & J Construction approved contingent on contract. - Item 5 — Road paving/reclamation: Rescission of award to American Pavement Specialists approved; no replacement vendor announced at the meeting. - Item 6 — Mutual Link panic-button system: Approved. Total quoted cost $43,408.08 (five-year agreement); recurring annual cost $8,794.88; award contingent on contract. - Item 7 — Thomson Reuters Westlaw ProFlex and Westlaw Complete renewals: Approved (36-month subscriptions; sole-source justification provided); monthly costs and annual increase rates as presented.

The board made clear on multiple items that awards were contingent on contract execution; Volpe closed the meeting by requesting signatures on required forms. The Board adjourned after completing the seven agenda items.

Sources: Meeting transcript, Board of Awards, Danbury City, May 27, 2026.