Odessa staff outline RFQ timeline, say contract award could be July 8; work with foundation may use lease not MOU

Aaron, a staff member, outlined a projected schedule for a design request for qualifications and the related contract process in an Odessa meeting, saying sealed bids are due June 25 and the city plans to begin contract negotiations on June 30.

"So June...June 25 tomorrow, the sealed bids will be coming in for the RFQ for the design bid," Aaron said, adding that the evaluation process would follow the bid opening and that contract negotiations were expected to start June 30.

Aaron said the staff’s plan is to bring a contract award for consideration on July 8. He said the same July 8 meeting would include council consideration of "COs" (the transcript used the abbreviation; the meeting did not define the term), and that, if those items are approved, funding would likely occur around Aug. 14–15.

On project facility arrangements, Aaron said the city is working with a local foundation on a formal agreement and that legal staff are involved. "I don't know if we'll call it an MOU. It might be more of a ground lease and facility operating agreement with the foundation," Aaron said.

Aaron thanked Christina for work on the arrangement; no formal motion, vote, or contract award was recorded in the meeting transcript. The statements in the meeting reflect staff scheduling and options under discussion rather than a final, enacted decision.

Next steps identified by staff were the bid opening on June 25, evaluation and negotiation beginning June 30, and potential contract consideration July 8; staff also indicated further work with legal and the foundation to finalize whether the city will use an MOU or a ground lease and facility operating agreement.