Val Verde commissioners reject Synagus Road bids, direct staff to trim specs and rebid

Val Verde County commissioners voted unanimously to reject all bids for the Synagus Road project after the apparent low bid of $9.9 million exceeded the county’s $6 million set-aside.

The court directed staff to revise project specifications—focusing on drainage options, reusing existing base material where feasible and switching to less costly pipe materials—in an effort to lower the eventual bid price and return with recommendations. ‘‘If we don’t take care of the drainage first, we’re just going to end up tearing up a road and having to come back and fix the road,’’ the judge said during discussion.

Commissioners discussed a range of strategies to close the funding gap, including rebidding with trimmed specifications, pursuing a labor-only bid if necessary, and the possibility of short-term borrowing to supplement capital needs. Staff noted that some spec changes—such as replacing concrete pipe with PVC or working the existing subbase and adding cement to the base material—could reduce costs but that the precise savings would not be clear until the county produced revised bid documents.

The court’s motion to reject the bids and authorize staff to amend specifications and rebid passed on a voice vote. The judge said the county will evaluate options for rebidding and, if needed, return with proposals for borrowing or alternative procurement methods.

Next steps: staff will prepare revised specifications and a rebid plan for the court’s consideration. No construction contract award was made at the meeting.