Commission hears recommendation for environmental site assessment; Professional Environmental Engineers cited as best value

Miami County commissioners on July 23 reviewed RFP 2025-12, the environmental site assessment (ESA) for the Miami County Courthouse, and heard staff recommend Professional Environmental Engineers as the best value bidder after reviewing five proposals. Project manager Matt Oler told the commission that five firms responded and that Tetra Tech was the only firm that toured the facility. "Going through proposals and identifying what's in your RFP, I feel confident that Professional Environmental Engineers would be able to do you a successful job based on the RFP that was written," Oler said, and he cited the firm’s approach and price of $7,715. Oler said the apparent low bid was Baldrige Engineers at $7,500 but that county staff found discrepancies in that proposal when comparing it to the RFP requirements. Oler outlined the scope included in the ESA: an asbestos survey, lead-based paint testing, mold testing and air-quality sampling at 10 scribe locations, and general research and inspection of the building. He warned that additional, potentially destructive testing could be recommended by the selected firm after initial results, and said any additional testing would be brought back to the commission for approval as an addendum to the contract. "If any of that destructive testing were to be done, there would be abatement on their part and responsibility to restore it," Oler said. Commissioners asked whether the county could provide documents such as as-built drawings and prior environmental studies; Oler said the county would share any available electronic drawings and prior environmental reports with the chosen firm. No formal award vote was recorded in the study-session transcript; Oler said he would contact Baldrige to provide feedback after the commission’s decision. Next steps for the commission would be a formal award on a future agenda or contract execution after any additional review and vendor outreach.