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Adams County approves $476,633 countywide bridge inspection contract; engineers warn of new federal reporting requirements
Summary
The Adams County Board of Commissioners approved a four-year countywide bridge inspection contract with USI for up to $476,633 and received an update on a separate three-year small-structure inspection contract. Federal reporting changes will increase inspection detail and cost, with an estimated 80% reimbursement from Federal Highway.
The Adams County Board of Commissioners on a routine vote approved a countywide bridge inspection contract with USI covering calendar years 2026 through 2029, with a not-to-exceed total of $476,633.03.
The county’s presenter, Nate (Highway Department staff), said the higher price reflects changes in federal highway standards that expand reporting requirements for the National Bridge Inventory. “The total for that contract is, set up as it not to exceed for $476,633.03,” he said. He added the county expects an 80% reimbursement through Federal Highway, leaving the county’s net cost over four years at about $95,326.61.
County staff also updated the board on a separate three-year small-structure inspection contract with Jensen Spohns Engineering that inspects two townships per year so the county covers roughly half the townships during the agreement. Nate described the rotation and inspection scope and said structures 36 inches and larger remain in the program on a six-year inspection cycle. “We own the data,” he said, describing a GIS-based inspection tool the county now controls and can grant credentialed access to outside contractors.
Nate told the board that federal changes could expand the length of individual bridge reports—what once might have been a four-page report could grow to 12 pages—and that consultants expect double-digit cost increases. He said staff judged USI’s proposed increase reasonable given the new federal requirements.
Commissioners discussed reimbursement timing and administration. Nate said the county will submit reimbursement claims on a rolling quarterly basis rather than waiting until the end of the contract. “I need to be sending requests out about every quarter…so we stay current with Federal Highway,” he said.
The small-structure update described how the county divides inspections across townships, how smaller structures may be handled by the highway department, and that owning the inspection data reduces migration costs if the county switches consultants.
The board received the presentations and approved the countywide bridge inspection contract. Staff said they will proceed with contract signatures and quarterly reimbursement requests to the Federal Highway program.
Less critical details: the small-structure agreement is structured to complete inspections across six townships over three years (two townships per year), and the county’s inspection tool can issue role-based credentials for outside inspectors to edit or view data.
