The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court voted Dec. 22 to award a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) drainage construction contract for the Kay Bar Ranch area to DM Underground, the low responsive bidder.

Carlos Montalvo of ICE Engineers reported six bids were opened and the low, qualified bid was from DM Underground at $1,543,246.50, below the engineer’s estimate of approximately $1,680,000. ICE Engineers recommended award to DM Underground and said the bid packages were found responsive, with only minor mathematical errors in two bids that did not affect order of award.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about the project’s design, including roadside ditches, improved culverts and a retention pond. Engineers said the design includes roadside swales leading to a retention pond, a security fence and that the Kay Bar Ranch work is part of a larger grant package with roughly $8,000,000 in total funds that also covers the Rancho Alegre construction.

ICE Engineers said they will serve as project manager for engineering inspections, review contractor pay applications, take photographs and submit documentation to GrantWorks for final grant approval. The court approved awarding the contract to DM Underground and directed staff to schedule a preconstruction meeting with all interested commissioners and project stakeholders.

Next steps: staff will issue an award letter, set a preconstruction meeting date, and proceed with GrantWorks review and contractor onboarding.