The San Antonio Audit Committee on March 28 approved a presolicitation notice to seek construction services for a planned South Flores police substation, presented by Public Works staff as an estimated $17,040,879 procurement with a multi-step evaluation and a contractor selection timeline that runs through at least September 2025.

The presolicitation was introduced during the committee’s individual-business items and approved by voice vote. Rossini of the Department of Public Works presented the project and described the procurement approach, evaluation criteria and schedule. The presentation listed an estimated value of $17,040,879 for the construction contract and said the solicitation would be released by the department’s normal posting process.

The committee heard the procurement’s proposed evaluation weights, including 30 points for firm qualifications and key personnel and 15 points for understanding of the project and regional experience. Price was listed at 15 points, with small-business and minority participation elements noted (10 points for SBE and 10 points for MWBE in the scoring example shown). The presentation also referenced subcontracting or participation percentage targets as reported in the meeting: “SVEA van a catorce por ciento, MWBE y AABE uno por ciento.”

Public Works told the committee the solicitation would be released April 4, 2025, that a pre-submittal conference was scheduled for April 17, 2025, and that staff expected to return the project to the committee on August 12, 2025, with City Council approval planned in September 2025. Committee members asked procedural clarifications about the ten-business-day and thirty-calendar-day posting periods after council approval; staff confirmed the ten days are business days and the thirty days are calendar days.

Committee members emphasized wanting a strong solicitation package and cited the recently completed St. Mary’s substation as a model. President Villagrán said, in Spanish, “Esto ha ha sido un proceso largo para llegar aquí. Gracias, Rosy, por tu paciencia,” and asked staff to ensure the solicitation attracts strong proposals. Councilmember College asked how community members for evaluation panels are selected; staff responded they recruit community members with relevant interest or expertise depending on the project.

The committee approved the presolicitation by voice vote. The presolicitation notice and the procurement timeline described at the meeting will govern the next steps; no contract award was made at the March 28 session.

Questions about specific bonding or grant line items and the detailed meaning of the reported percent participation figures were discussed in general terms in the meeting but not resolved in detail.