Executive Subcommittee approves TIPS waiver for Stuttgart School District turf replacement
March 19, 2026 | 2026 Legislature AR, Arkansas
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The Executive Subcommittee of the Bureau of Legislative Research voted to approve a request from Stuttgart School District to use the TIPS cooperative-purchasing process for a turf-replacement project, the panel announced after a motion and unanimous 'aye' vote.
Jeff McKinney, superintendent of Stuttgart School District, told the subcommittee three bids received in response to a January 2026 request for proposals (opened 02/10/2026) did not meet the RFP specifications. He said one bidder was a construction-management firm rather than a turf vendor, a second offered an eight-year warranty while the RFP required 10 years, and a third initially lacked the $5,000,000 in construction insurance the RFP required. That third bidder, United Turf and Track, later confirmed it would meet the insurance requirement and agreed to honor pricing submitted in its original bid.
"Approval and execution of the contract must occur soon in order to allow adequate time for summer installation," McKinney said, saying summer work was necessary to avoid disrupting spring and fall athletic programs. He added the district had worked with United Turf and Track for repairs and maintenance over the past two years and had paid a little more than $25,000 for those services.
McKinney said the district's architect, Clayton Baydon, reviewed the proposals and recommended using the TIPS cooperative process to move the project forward while ensuring competitive pricing and compliance with technical specifications. "The district believes the TIPS process is the most practical and responsible way to complete this project," he said.
After McKinney's presentation the chair called for a motion; members moved and seconded, and the chair announced the ayes had it and the waiver was approved. The subcommittee did not record individual vote tallies in the transcript.
The approval allows the district to proceed with contracting through TIPS rather than reopening a traditional competitive bid in hopes of meeting the project schedule for summer installation.
Jeff McKinney, superintendent of Stuttgart School District, told the subcommittee three bids received in response to a January 2026 request for proposals (opened 02/10/2026) did not meet the RFP specifications. He said one bidder was a construction-management firm rather than a turf vendor, a second offered an eight-year warranty while the RFP required 10 years, and a third initially lacked the $5,000,000 in construction insurance the RFP required. That third bidder, United Turf and Track, later confirmed it would meet the insurance requirement and agreed to honor pricing submitted in its original bid.
"Approval and execution of the contract must occur soon in order to allow adequate time for summer installation," McKinney said, saying summer work was necessary to avoid disrupting spring and fall athletic programs. He added the district had worked with United Turf and Track for repairs and maintenance over the past two years and had paid a little more than $25,000 for those services.
McKinney said the district's architect, Clayton Baydon, reviewed the proposals and recommended using the TIPS cooperative process to move the project forward while ensuring competitive pricing and compliance with technical specifications. "The district believes the TIPS process is the most practical and responsible way to complete this project," he said.
After McKinney's presentation the chair called for a motion; members moved and seconded, and the chair announced the ayes had it and the waiver was approved. The subcommittee did not record individual vote tallies in the transcript.
The approval allows the district to proceed with contracting through TIPS rather than reopening a traditional competitive bid in hopes of meeting the project schedule for summer installation.
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