Board approves $1.452 million award for recovery-shelter generators at four schools

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $1,452,000 contract award on April 20 to BECP LLC for installation of recovery-shelter generators at four school properties: Pine Forest High School, South View High School, M. Williams Middle School and W.T. Brown Elementary School.

Assistant County Manager Faith Phillips presented the procurement background, explaining that the recommendation was to accept the low bidder to include the base lump-sum bid ($1,146,000) and an alternate for load-bank disconnects at all sites (an additional $36,000). She said the generator equipment itself had been purchased in 2025 under several contracts and that price differences between sites were due to site-specific conditions such as conductor length and size.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about what the recommended award covered; Phillips confirmed the $1.452 million recommended award covers the installation and specified alternates only, not the generator purchases. Commissioner Faircloth moved to approve the award and place the item on the April 27 consent agenda; the motion passed by voice/raised-hand vote with no dissent.

The board recorded the award and instructed staff to include the contract on the consent agenda for final action at the regular April 27 meeting.