Contract Dispute Highlights Aransas County Special Meeting

Aransas County commissioners voted to award the Town of Fulton Streets and Drainage Project contract to Tex-Mix Paving LLC after determining that the lowest bidder’s proposed schedule could not meet federal grant deadlines.

Aransas County received six competitive bids for comprehensive right-of-way, paving, and drainage improvements on Palmetto, Broadway, Cactus, Chaparral, Mesquite, and Myrtle streets between Highway 35 and Fulton Beach Road. The work is funded entirely through a Texas General Land Office Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG‑MIT‑MOD) grant that requires construction to be finished and all close‑out documents to be submitted by Aug. 31, 2027.

LCR Total Transport submitted the lowest total bid at $1,819,424 with a proposed construction duration of 335 calendar days for the selected base bid and alternates. Tex‑Mix Paving submitted the second‑lowest bid at $1,970,684.75, which is $151,260.75 higher, but committed in a clarification letter to complete the full scope in 200 calendar days with no additional days for the two additive alternates.

County staff and project engineer Hanson Professional Services concluded that LCR’s 335‑day schedule would leave about 30 days between projected completion and the Aug. 31, 2027, grant expiration. The agenda memorandum states this buffer is not feasible because it does not provide adequate time for post‑construction administrative processing, and any unforeseen delays before close‑out documents must be submitted.

Hanson’s written recommendation emphasized that, although Tex‑Mix’s bid costs more, its 200‑day construction schedule is 135 calendar days shorter than LCR’s and better aligned with the funding deadline, bid package requirements, and construction budget. Based on that evaluation, Tex‑Mix was identified as the lowest responsible bidder capable of assuring compliance with the CDBG‑MIT‑MOD grant timeline. Engineering review and documentation

Hanson reviewed all six bids for accuracy and compliance, using a base bid plus two alternates to allow the county to fully use available construction funds within the grant. The base bid covers roadway repair with a two‑course surface and drainage crossings. Alternate No. 1 adds roadside drainage improvements, and Alternate No. 2 upgrades the surface to hot mix asphaltic concrete in place of the two‑course treatment.

Minor mathematical errors were found among bidders, but Hanson reported that none affected overall bid rankings. The engineer’s bid evaluation, full tabulation, and Tex‑Mix’s calendar‑days clarification letter were attached to the agenda materials provided to commissioners before the vote.