Committee to help select vendor for Bastrop County Courthouse repairs

Base work for the roof repair project will include:

• Removing the existing metal roof and installing a new one made of modern materials
• Replacing all of the roof’s drainage parts, such as the gutters and downspouts, so water flows properly
• Replacing the roof hatch, which provides access to the roof
• Removal and restoration of the building’s lightning protection system

Bastrop County rejected an approximately $9.8 million construction proposal for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement project at the Bastrop County Courthouse and Jail Complex during a Dec. 22 meeting.

Although 45 contractors inquired about the project, the construction proposal from QA Construction was the only one Bastrop County received.

“This proposed pricing is not considered fair and reasonable,” Leon Scaife, a purchasing agent for Bastrop County, said in a staff report.

The budget for the HVAC replacement project, he emphasized, is about $4 million.

What we know

Bastrop County is seeking a grant through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program to assist with the full restoration of the Bastrop County Courthouse—an endeavor that would cost approximately $20.4 million, according to a master plan that Bastrop County officials prepared in April 2022.

Winners will be announced in July 2026, according to the Texas Historical Commission.

What else?

The roof repairs will be paid for with Capital Improvement Plan funds and certificates of obligation, according to county documents.

The outlook

Following the RFP committee’s scoring process, the Bastrop County Commissioners Court will consider awarding a contract at a future meeting.