Commissioners approve RFQ for architectural and engineering services for new county jail; committee process set

The Liberty County Commissioners Court on July 22 approved issuing Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 25-12 for professional architectural and engineering services to develop a new county jail facility.

The court said it will select an architect first before deciding the procurement method for construction, and discussed committee membership and selection criteria used to evaluate respondents.

Procurement staff (name not specified) summarized the evaluation committee’s prior meeting and said the RFQ package includes minimum qualifications, a scope of services, selection criteria and a proposed evaluation committee. A commissioner asked the court to consider adding a public member with construction experience to the evaluation committee; court members noted that adding a member would require following agenda and notice rules and could be addressed on a future agenda.

A motion to approve issuance of RFQ No. 25-12 carried. The court recorded that the RFQ will proceed under the stated procurement process and that staff will return with any committee membership changes on a future agenda if the court chooses to add a public or non‑county member.