McAllen commission approves multiple infrastructure contracts, expands engineering roster
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Summary
The McAllen City Commission approved a slate of contracts — including consulting services, preliminary engineering for a major roadway, pump‑station replacement, interconnect work and park improvements — and voted to add all 42 respondent firms to the city's engineering rotation.
The McAllen City Commission voted unanimously to approve several procurement actions and expand its roster of engineering firms, decisions the city says will accelerate planned infrastructure projects.
City staff presented results of a recent solicitation for general engineering services, reporting that 42 firms responded. "We scored 42 respondents," said Eduardo (city staff), who recommended placing a set of qualified firms on a rotation and said the city could expand the list to meet project needs. After discussion, a commissioner moved "to approve all 42" and the motion passed by voice vote.
Separately, the commission approved a consulting contract with G.D.J. Engineering to assist with planning and funding coordination through the RGB MPO at $5,544.16 per month for eight months, totaling $44,353.28. City staff described the consultant's role as helping secure federal funding and providing economic and project-development guidance.
The commission also authorized preliminary engineering and right-of-way mapping for the planned Freddy Gonzalez Drive project, which staff said would later include about 3.6 miles of five-lane urban roadway, stormwater systems, pedestrian pathways, modern roundabouts and bridge crossings. Staff stated the amount for the preliminary engineering and mapping as $606,134,150.64; commissioners approved the authorization. (That dollar figure appears unusually large in the transcript and is flagged in clarifying details.)
Other contract awards approved on the consent agenda included the Harvey pump station replacement to RGB Industrial Machine Shop Pump LLC of Elsa, Texas, with the amount stated as $768,920 and a completion period not to exceed 200 working days; Northwest Blue Line interconnect improvements to Artillery Construction of Edinburg, Texas (staff noted a tie-breaker resolved by past performance); and El Rancho Park improvements to the lowest responsible bidder with a contract amount stated as $263,724 and a 150‑day completion period.
Mayor and commissioners approved the package by voice votes. Staff said awarding these contracts will allow the city to begin design and construction activities aligned with the FY 2026 program.
The next steps include contract execution by city staff and the city manager's approval for future-year authorizations where noted.