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Rio Blanco awards fairgrounds improvement design contract to Civic Forum Associates
Summary
After reviewing five proposals, the county awarded an architectural/engineering RFP for fairgrounds restroom upgrades and ADA grandstand access to Civic Forum Associates, which submitted the lowest base fee and has prior county experience; staff disclosed a separate church-related relationship with the firm.
The Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners voted April 28 to award a design-services contract for fairgrounds facility improvements to Civic Forum Associates.
Staff said the RFP's primary focus is on restroom improvements and ADA compliance for the main grandstand; optional services included roof repair or reskin options and mechanical/electrical engineering work. The county received six submissions, five of which were responsive, and used a two-envelope process (qualifications then fees) to select finalists.
"Civic Forum has done other projects with the county," county staff said, noting prior work on Coline Park and the White River School remodel. Civic Forum’s base fee was presented as the lower of the top two finalists; staff recommended Civic Forum based on combined scoring of experience, understanding of ADA deficiencies and fee.
Staff disclosed a separate, noncontractual relationship: the presenter said he attends the Holy Family Catholic Church in Meeker and Civic Forum’s owner has done work for that church; the presenter said the relationship did not affect his scoring.
The board approved the award and asked staff for a timeline: staff aims to have design documents ready to solicit construction bids by third quarter 2026 and to start construction in the fourth quarter of 2026 to avoid the fair season.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that Civic Forum will deliver construction documents and that the county will bid the construction contract separately once design is complete.
