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County staff recommend $1.9 million contract to add 12 video courtrooms at New Century detention center
Summary
County facilities staff recommended awarding a $1,898,000 contract to Icon Structures Inc. to renovate underused space at the New Century Adult Detention Center for 12 video courtrooms, support spaces and related IT; staff said the work will repurpose existing interior space and was the lowest responsive bid.
County facilities staff recommended authorizing a $1,898,000 contract with Icon Structures Inc. to renovate interior space at the New Century Adult Detention Center for 12 video courtrooms, holding cells, waiting areas and a command center to support virtual court hearings.
The project, presented at the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners agenda review on Aug. 7, is intended to repurpose underused space inside the existing facility and to increase capacity for video hearings and associated functions. Kyle Helton of facilities management said the work will include “replacement of aging acoustic ceiling tile, but primarily renovations, to make accommodations for virtual court hearings and their associated functions.”
Staff told commissioners that the county issued Invitation for Bid IFB-2025-024; 27 firms viewed the solicitation, 14 attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting and three bids were received. One low bidder was found nonresponsive for missing required documentation, leaving Icon Structures as the low responsive, responsible bidder at $1,898,000. Staff said the figure is lower than the project’s probable cost of $2,110,699 and well below an earlier budget authorization of up to $3,250,000 approved May 9.
The board’s members praised staff for reducing initial cost estimates. Commissioner Allen Brand said the renovations will “probably save a lot of time and money” by reducing inmate transports, and Helton confirmed the project will create 12 video conferencing rooms. Commissioner Ashcraft asked for additional detail on the efficiency analysis and vendor selection; Helton agreed to follow up with commissioners before the full meeting.
According to staff, the original request from the sheriff’s office had been just over $8 million; Helton said the current scope has been pared down substantially. Lieutenant Corey Smith of the sheriff’s office was noted as present to answer operational questions, but did not provide remarks during the agenda review.
Next steps: the item was placed on the board’s consent/consent-track agenda for formal action at the full meeting. If authorized, staff will proceed with contract execution with Icon Structures and schedule the renovation work.
