Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV-SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 3
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Tom S. Ramsey, P.E., Commissioner
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): UPIN 24035MF3JR01
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 19.6%
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal is not 0% and is listed above
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to execute an agreement with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. in the amount of $585,413.40, for professional engineering services to provide Study, Design and Bid Phase Services for Water Connection to the City of Houston - Atascocita Complex - 2024, UPIN 24035MF3JR01, Precinct 3, MWBE Contracted Goal: 19.6%.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Atascocita Complex includes a Harris County Sheriff’s Office Academy, Vehicle Barn, and firing range, a Harris County Public Health building, Harris County Fire Marshal facilities, Precinct facilities, Harris County Community Supervision & Corrections Department facilities, the Pam Lychner State Jail, and other facilities. Water is currently being provided to all users, including multiple critical facilities, at the Atascocita Complex by aging water wells and a water plant. Harris County is not currently able to permit any additional wells onsite, which will prevent future expansion at that site. Per the 2004 Ground Water Reduction Plan agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County, Harris County is obligated to reduce its dependence on groundwater at the Atascocita Complex or it will face undefined fees. In addition, the existing ground storage tank has not had maintenance done on it because there is no redundancy in the system. If the tank fails and the water supply is interrupted, the state jail and multiple Harris County detention facilities would be without water service, which would generate violations and cause health issues.
The design of the water system improvements includes tapping into the City of Houston 16-inch water transmission line, a water meter, a backflow preventer, piping, new ground storage tanks, new booster pumps, new chlorination system, replacement of existing undersized piping.
Expected Impact:
Completing the design of the connection to the City of Houston water distribution network and the new water plant will ensure current and future capacity for all facilities at the Atascocita Complex.
Alternative Options:
Replacing the existing water well and water plant was considered, but it is not a feasible alternative due to the likelihood of not being able to obtain the necessary permits due to the Groundwater Reduction Plan. In addition, the additional wells needed for future expansion on site would likely not be permitted for the same reason.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): H4: Consistently embed sustainability considerations in the project planning and design process.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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5/8/25 |
486 |
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval on the basis of best evaluated response(s) and authorize negotiations with Baxter & Woodman, Inc. for professional architectural and/or engineering services. Job No. 24/0409 |
|
6/25/24 |
79 |
Request for approval of a Final Investment Memo for the Atascocita Complex Infrastructure Improvements project, for an initial authorization of $13,310,000, and request approval of an initial commercial paper funding in the amount of $8,350,000. |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Precinct 3
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Engineering |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Other |
$ |
$585,413.40 |
$585,413.40 |
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$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
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$585,413.40 |
$585,413.40 |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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Total Funding Sources |
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$585,413.40 |
$585,413.40 |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
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$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 4/16/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Erwin Burden, P.E., CFM, Chief of Engineering and Architectural Services, Office of the County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): Contract and Exhibits