County committee recommends $172,930 resiliency study contract; minority-business budget adjustment needed

Washington County staff told the Public Works Committee on Aug. 26 they recommend awarding a resiliency study contract to the top-ranked firm from a competitive RFP process and asked the committee to authorize moving the award through the board for final approval. Public-works staff said the county received a $200,000 grant for the project and solicited proposals; seven firms responded. A review committee that included representatives from public works, public safety and the regional planning board ranked the proposals and recommended the committee authorize the county to award a contract to Lavela (as transcribed). Staff reported the consultant’s proposed price at roughly $172,930 and said the grant budget includes $173,000 in contractual funds. The proposal included the required woman‑owned business participation but staff said an adjustment would be needed to meet the county’s minority‑owned business participation goal (about $27,000 is budgeted for each MBE and WBE allocation in the grant structure). Supervisor Wang made the motion to move the award for board action; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The committee did not itself execute the contract at the meeting — members authorized forwarding the recommended award and details to the board for final authorization. Staff noted the award is grant-funded and that the resiliency project’s contract and budget are already in the department’s grant line; the committee motion will allow formal award and any required budget amendment to satisfy MBE/WBE commitments.