Board approves $119,225 change order to outfit Northeast Middle/High with furniture and equipment

The Cecil County Board of Education voted to amend RFP 21-01 and approve a $119,225 change order to contract with architect Grama Parker to assist with selection and procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Northeast Middle / Northeast High School replacement project.

Superintendent Dr. Lawson introduced the request and asked Associate Superintendent Denise Sopa to explain the rationale. "This request is for Grama Parker, who is the architect on the project to assist with choosing and ordering the furnishers, fixtures, and equipment for the new school," Sopa said, adding that CCPS does not have the manpower or experience to outfit a school of that size internally. Sopa told the board the vendor will help reconcile existing serviceable furniture from nearby schools and identify needed purchases under the FFE line.

Board members asked whether the work had been in the original contract. A board member observed the work "wasn't included in initial scope of work, but it always needed to be done," and the board approved the change order by voice vote. President Heath recorded the outcome as "Motion carries." The approval allows CCPS to proceed with a coordinated procurement effort to furnish the new building and aims to realize efficiencies by using an experienced vendor.

The change order was the only formal contract action taken during the work session. The board's packet and the RFP identify the procurement as part of the Northeast rebuild program; staff said the change order will help ensure a consistent approach and better pricing for large-scale ordering.