Brazos County Commission Selects Contractor for New Medical Examiner’s Office Amid Transparency Concerns

Brazos County Chooses Contractor

Brazos County, TX – A pivotal decision was made last week by the Brazos County Commission regarding the construction of a new Medical Examiner’s office. The board has chosen J.T. Vaughn Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for this ambitious $24 million project. Despite this important stride, concerns have arisen due to the county’s apparent resistance to release any related documents.

Document Withholding Raises Concerns

A variety of documents, including the county’s request for qualifications (RFQ), the county’s request for proposals (RFP), and a tabulation sheet used to rank prospective companies, have been withheld by the county. These documents are typically disclosed to ensure transparency and fairness in the decision-making process. A spokesperson for Brazos County explained that the chosen contractor, J.T. Vaughn Construction, claimed its documents contain protected proprietary information. The company and the county are currently working to identify which sections of these documents can be safely disclosed without compromising business-sensitive details.

Public Release Not Required

The county spokesperson added that the request for proposal did not mandate public release of company documents. This unusual lack of transparency has caught the attention of many within the county, amplifying existing concerns about the selection and construction process of such a noteworthy public facility.

Brazos Bid, a website that houses lists for awarded bids, closed bids, and current bids for multiple entities, including Brazos County, currently does not list any information related to this project. As of April 20th, there were no entries for Brazos County in any category.

Construction Plan Overview

During the April 16th commission, Charles Wendt, Brazos County’s purchasing agent, highlighted that Vaughn Construction was selected because it ranked the highest out of six competing companies. Wendt noted that Vaughn had successfully overseen construction of similar facilities for Harris County and the University of North Texas in the past. A second contract that will include the guaranteed maximum price is due to be considered by the commission.

The planned medical examiner’s office is set to be built in Bryan off 29th Street between St. Joseph regional hospital and Briarcrest. Commissioners had previously reserved $24 million in federal pandemic grant funding for this project in October of 2022. Wendt reassured the commission and the public that they should meet all of the grant requirements, including having all contracts signed by the end of 2024 and finishing construction by the end of 2026.

The decision to construct a new medical examiner’s office comes at a critical time. This facility will ultimately serve and support the local community with vital services pertaining to public health and safety.