This story was updated April 24, 2024 to add documents that Brazos County sent to WTAW News soliciting requests for qualifications (RFQ) and requests for proposals (RFP) to select a construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the new medical examiner’s office.
Brazos County commissioners select a contractor to build the new medical examiner’s office.
But the county has not released all documents associated with the April 16th selection of a construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the $24 million dollar project.
A county spokesman tells WTAW News that J.T. Vaughn Construction “has asserted that all or part of their documents are protected proprietary information. We (Brazos County) have requested that they specifically identify which sections may be protected. Those sections will be sent (by Brazos County) to the Attorney General’s office for review and a final decision.”
The spokesman also told WTAW News that the county did not require interested companies to allow public release of their documents.
Following an open records request by WTAW News, Brazos County provided the request for qualifications (RFQ) and the request for proposals (RFP) documents associated to seeking the medical examiner’s office CMAR.
Brazos County’s website includes a link to the “Brazos Bid” website, which contains lists for “awarded bids“, “closed bids“, and “current bids” for Brazos County, the cities of College Station and Bryan, and the San Jacinto River Authority. As of April 20, there are no Brazos County listings in any of the Brazos Bid website categories.
The commission’s unanimous vote on April 16th followed a presentation from the county’s purchasing agent. Charles Wendt said Vaughn ranked the highest out of six companies and Vaughn was in charge of building similar facilities for Harris County and the University of North Texas.
Brazos County has not provided to WTAW News, the bid tabulation sheet ranking all companies that submitted applications that were reviewed by a committee appointed by the commission.
Wendt also told commissioners that they will be considering at a date yet to be determined, a second contract from Vaughn that will include the guaranteed maximum price.
In October of 2022, commissioners reserved $24 million dollars in federal pandemic grant money for the office that will be built in Bryan off 29th Street between St. Joseph regional hospital and Briarcrest.
Wendt said there will be no trouble meeting grant requirements of having all contracts signed by the end of 2024 and completing construction by the end of 2026.
Click below to hear comments from the April 16, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.
