Commissioners table $RFP award after local-reference and cost concerns

Commissioners voted to table a recommended award of RFP 26-088 for grant-writing services after several members questioned whether references had been checked and why a local contractor who had previously worked with the county scored lower. One commissioner asked whether the county had contacted listed client references; a second commissioner said he personally reached out to Fort Bend County and had not received a response, which raised a red flag.

Procurement staff and the evaluation committee defended the scoring, saying Hagerty Consulting received higher overall points on qualifications and project approach despite higher potential overage rates; staff committed to provide the evaluation materials and check references before the item returns to court. "The committee did go through and evaluate those and assign the points that they did and the highest point evaluated points were, were went to Hagerty," the procurement representative said. The court's motion to table passed so the award will be reconsidered after additional vetting.