Local firms get ECISD bidding points
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

The El Campo ISD school board decided to add a local component to the method it will use to evaluate bid proposals for upcoming construction projects, including major renovations to the high school science building and Ricebird Stadium's turf and track.

The district uses competitive sealed proposals for facilities construction, so it must have a way to evaluate those proposals that is fair and legally acceptable.

To get the competitive sealed proposal process started, the district first must give public notice of a project, publish the selection criteria then evaluate proposals based on those criteria.

In the competitive sealed proposal delivery method, the district has the right to select the proposal that provides the best value for the district, using established selection criteria.

Before the request for proposals could be prepared by RWS Architects, the board had to approve the selection criteria, which have to be included as a part of the request for proposals.

Superintendent Mark Pool drafted an initial list of criteria and their values for the board to consider at its Nov. 20 meeting, which was:

• Purchase price, 40 points;

• Reputation of proposer and of goods or services, 10 points;

• Quality of the goods and services, 10 points;

• Number of calendar days for project completion, 5 points;

• Extent goods or services meet the district's needs, 10 points;

• Past relationship with the district, 10 points;

• Past record of completing projects on time, 10 points; and

• Demonstrated ability to close out the project satisfactorily, 5 points.

However, the board decided to change the list, giving less weight to two areas so it could include 10 points for a category weighing use of local subcontractors. That dropped the weight given to the extent goods or services meet the district's needs and the contractor's past relationship with the district to 5 points each.

The board will consider proposals for both high school projects at its next regular meeting on Dec. 18 and possibly select a contractor for these projects at that time.