VHA Approves HVAC Bid for Old French Towne

Housing authority also discusses flooring updates for units

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Vincennes Housing Authority (VHA) met on Tuesday and approved a $389,000 bid from Heinz HVAC, a southern Indiana company, to install a new air handler system and complete HVAC work at the Old French Towne housing complex. The VHA also discussed the process of selecting and installing new flooring in units, including the challenges of finding durable yet affordable options that will remain available long-term.

Why it matters

Maintaining and upgrading the HVAC and flooring systems in public housing complexes is crucial for providing comfortable, safe, and accessible living conditions for residents. The VHA’s proactive approach to these infrastructure projects helps ensure the continued viability of the Old French Towne community.

The details

The VHA approved Heinz HVAC’s $389,000 bid for the HVAC work, which includes a 120-day completion timeline. The authority also approved a $157,000 bid from VEI Security for a fire alarm and smoke detector project at Piankeshaw Place, contingent on state approval. Regarding flooring updates, the VHA is weighing the pros and cons of glued-down versus floating vinyl flooring, considering both cost and accessibility for wheelchair users.

  • The VHA board approved the HVAC bid at its Tuesday evening meeting.
  • The HVAC work is scheduled to be completed within 120 days.
  • The VHA is aiming to get the flooring updates squared away in the next couple of weeks.

The players

Vincennes Housing Authority

The local public housing authority responsible for managing and maintaining affordable housing complexes in Vincennes, Indiana.

Larry Donovan

A representative from Donovan & Donovan, the firm that helped the VHA solicit and evaluate bids for the HVAC and fire alarm projects.

Heinz HVAC

A southern Indiana HVAC company that submitted the winning $389,000 bid for the Old French Towne HVAC work.

VEI Security

The company that submitted the lowest $157,000 bid for the Piankeshaw Place fire alarm and smoke detector project.

Jackie Scott

The executive director of the Vincennes Housing Authority, who discussed the challenges of finding suitable and long-lasting flooring options for the housing units.

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What they’re saying

“We must get ahead of the game, having the HVAC work completed before summer, and I recommend the board accept the bid as proposed.”

— Larry Donovan, Representative, Donovan & Donovan (suncommercial.com)

“While it takes time and money to find contractors to lay the flooring, another challenge is finding a flooring style that will be available 5-10 years down the line.”

— Jackie Scott, Executive Director, Vincennes Housing Authority (suncommercial.com)

What’s next

The VHA will submit the fire alarm and smoke detector project drawings to the state for approval before moving forward with the VEI Security bid. The authority is also aiming to finalize the flooring selection and contractor costs in the next couple of weeks to begin those unit upgrades.

The takeaway

The VHA’s proactive approach to upgrading the HVAC systems and flooring in its public housing complexes demonstrates a commitment to providing comfortable, safe, and accessible living conditions for residents. By carefully vetting contractors and weighing long-term product availability, the authority is taking steps to ensure the sustainability of these critical infrastructure projects.