Aransas County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to reject bids for a communications-infrastructure solicitation funded through a General Land Office Community Development Block Grant (contract number 24-065-128-E986) and directed staff to pursue alternatives.

The grants and procurement representative (speaker 9) told the court the bid solicitation had been issued twice, but in the latest October opening there were concerns about Motorola changing some bid text. "It is their recommendation that we reject the bid, and then we go back and do a single source provider and go to buy board," the representative said, explaining the plan is to tie three towers together and add VHF equipment in the south tower.

Sheriff's Office staff confirmed the change will not require a different type of radio for the sheriff's office; rather, the project focuses on site connectivity and VHF installation. Commissioners voted 'Aye' and the motion to reject the bids passed.

Next steps: procurement staff will return with recommended procurement steps (single-source or buy-board purchase) and contract documents for the county to authorize.