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Washington County committee authorizes architectural RFP for new human services building
Summary
The executive committee unanimously authorized staff to issue a public request for proposals for architectural services for a potential new Human Services Department building and morgue, advancing design planning while deferring any funding decision until staff returns with cost estimates.
The Washington County Executive Committee on an evening vote authorized staff to go out for a public request for proposals for architectural services tied to a potential new Human Services Department (HSD) building and morgue, but did not approve construction funding.
County presenter Scott Schmidt told the committee the process will run in three phases: a space‑needs analysis to determine the right size and location, a design phase to finish plans and bid documents, and construction‑phase services. "What you see before you is a request for to a request for proposals for architectural services for the potential new human services building and morgue," Schmidt said during the presentation.
The committee’s move is procedural: the RFP will gather prospective building examples and architectural fee proposals so staff can present firm cost estimates. Schmidt emphasized the RFP is intended to collect reliable architectural fees and building-price examples before the county decides to obligate funds. No appropriation was requested or approved at the meeting; county staff plans to return to the executive committee and then to the full county board with cost figures in advance of a May board meeting.
Supervisors pressed for firm sizing and future workforce assumptions before approving spending. One supervisor warned the range of potential scope and cost is large, recounting prior internal conversations that sized the project at roughly 75,000 square feet with an approximate $40 million price tag and estimated architectural fees of about $2.5 million. "You're probably talking around 40 ish million dollars, and the estimated amount of architectural fees alone is 2 and a half million," that supervisor said, underscoring the scale of the potential investment.
Supporters said an RFP is a conservative, early step that does not commit the county to construction but will provide the data needed to judge return on investment and tax‑roll impacts, especially in context of planned campus redevelopment and property sales. Several supervisors urged staff to return with narrower cost estimates and a clear explanation of how the county would reduce building size, phase work or offset costs through property sales.
The committee voted unanimously to authorize the RFP process. Next steps: staff will solicit proposals publicly, compile architectural fees and building-price examples, and present a refined cost estimate to the executive committee and full county board for any funding decisions.
