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Atascosa County selects H2O to update multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan
Summary
After scoring three proposals, the county's review panel recommended H2O (score 95.43) to update Atascosa County's multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan and provide grant administration; staff said the plan is required to qualify for some emergency funding.
Atascosa County commissioners voted to accept H2O as the consultant to update the county's multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan and to provide related grant administration services, following a staff recommendation based on a seven-person scoring panel.
Tracy Barrera introduced the procurement item, explaining the county received three proposals and conducted a panel evaluation. The reported scores were GrantWorks 82.14, H2O 95.43 and Langford 88.14. Staff said the proposers would not charge the county direct fees, that profit percentages were included in proposal materials but were not part of the evaluation, and that two proposers qualified as HUB vendors while GrantWorks did not.
Mike Ponza, Atascosa County Emergency Management Coordinator, told the court the hazard mitigation plan is a required assessment of potential hazards the county could face and that having an up-to-date plan is necessary when applying for emergency funding or reimbursement. Ponza said he had contacted prior consultants and local emergency managers; several jurisdictions recommended H2O and staff reported being satisfied with H2O's responsiveness and guidance during the RFP process. Ponza noted H2O was the only proposer willing to make an on-site presentation.
A motion to accept and approve H2O for the Atascosa County Hazard Mitigation Plan was made and reported in the transcript as moved by Commissioner Gillespie and seconded. An unidentified speaker reminded Commissioner Riley the item presented a conflict and that Riley should abstain from the vote. The presiding officer recorded a vote tally in the transcript as "We have 3 4 1 abstention" (transcript wording unclear). The court proceeded after the vote.
Why it matters: An updated multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan is often a prerequisite for certain state and federal disaster grants and can determine eligibility for reimbursement after disasters. Selecting a consultant begins the update and any grant-administration activities tied to funding from the General Land Office.
The court moved on to closing business after approving the selection. The transcript does not record a detailed roll-call or the exact numeric vote for each commissioner; a potential conflict of interest and an abstention by Commissioner Riley were raised on the floor.
