Brazosport ISD staff recommend one-year multiple-contract fencing award, citing SAFE grant work already completed

District staff on Thursday recommended that the Brazosport Independent School District Board of Trustees approve one-year, multiple-contract awards to Absolute Fence Services and Superior Fence Services to provide fencing supplies and installation across campuses. The recommendation follows work funded in part by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) SAFE grant; staff said the district has been awarded more than $15,500,000 under TEA Cycle 1 SAFE and that “thus far, we have utilized over $1,000,000 of this allotment to improve the security of all of our Brazosport ISD campuses with fencing additions, renovations and improvements,” according to a district presentation. District staff told the board that only two formal proposals were received in response to the district’s request for proposals and that awarding to both firms would provide flexibility and price options for hundreds of line items (gates, linear feet, installation into concrete/asphalt/soil, etc.). The staff presentation listed completed fencing projects and future proposals at multiple campuses, including Polk Elementary, West Brazoria (labeled West Bridal), Lanier, Freeport Elementary, Clute Intermediate, Stephen F. Austin Elementary, Matt Griffith, Radice Wood High School, Brazoswood High School, Lake Jackson Intermediate and Brazosport High School. Staff cautioned the board that not every proposed project can yet be billed to the SAFE grant. On the Brazosport High School project staff said they were “still waiting for feedback as to whether this particular project would be allowed under the grant.” Board members and staff discussed technical details: the district said gates planned for some service roads and drives would be sliding gates with operators, and that work at an existing pool fence would add privacy slats and change the fence tops to a “twist top” to deter climbing. Staff said the RFP is a catalog-style solicitation listing components and rates so the district can order by line item as needs arise. Staff recommended the board approve the multiple awards for a one-calendar-year period “to purchase fencing supplies and installation services as needed.” The transcript records a motion to accept the recommendation but does not include a recorded final vote on that recommendation in the available transcript. The presentation identified that the district has already completed a sizable portion of fencing and gate upgrades and that the new RFP award would be used to finish outstanding projects and respond to new requests, while enabling the district to seek quotes from both vendors for individual jobs. Any award using SAFE grant funds will be subject to the grant’s allowable-cost review and any items the TEA determines ineligible would need to be funded from other local sources.