2026-82

CITY OF NEWPORT

RESOLUTION

OF THE
COUNCIL

No. 2026-82

WHEREAS: the Rhode Island Pandemic Recovery Office (PRO) awarded the City of Newport $7.5 Million as part of its Capital Projects Fund-Community Learning Center Program (CPF-CLC) to support renovations to the Florence Gray Community Center and the residents of both Newport and Middletown; and

WHEREAS: the City entered into a Subrecipient Agreement with Newport Housing Authority (owner of Florence Gray Center) and Boys and Girls Club of Newport County in accordance with 220-RICR-20-00-2, Rules and Regulations for Grant-Making Involving Federal Funds, consistent with requirements of the CPF; and

WHEREAS: the procurement process for the furniture order utilizes cooperative purchasing agreements as permitted under Rhode Island General Laws §37-2-56, which allows governmental entities to utilize contracts awarded by other public agencies when the vendor agrees to extend the same terms and pricing; and

WHEREAS: use of this cooperative contract is consistent with the procurement policies of the City of Newport; and

WHEREAS: the Office Concepts quote of $283,464.03 was based on the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Steelcase (contract 091423-STI); and

WHEREAS: the budget line item to purchase furniture for the CLC is $300,000 as approved by the RI Pandemic Recovery Office (PRO), to meet the requirements of the PRO-CPF/CLC program, providing dedicated spaces for education, workforce development, and health monitoring at the Florence Gray Center; and

WHEREAS: Council approval is being sought because this amount exceeds the $250,000.00 threshold for purchasing under this grant, as documented in Resolution 2025-25. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED: the City of Newport approves authorization of a not-to-exceed amount of $300,000.00 for the purchase of furniture for the Florence Gray Community Learning Center (CLC) and approval of a contract with Office Concepts