OK, we are building a jail. How did the rest of you choose an architect? RFP's? Bids? Or the professional services exemption? What did you look for? I'm at sea here, and in dire need of a life raft...

Lisa L. Peterson
Nolan County Attorney

Lisa, best i remember we went with the professional services exemption after visiting several new jails....Tom pollon was a great source if information as he has worked with all the major players....a trip 2 austin was well worth the money to the county early on in the process....and very educational for the folks that went. Tom will tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each. Plus he had knowledge of where all the "new" jails had been built, size, construction method etc.

Architecture is one of the specifically enumerated disciplines within the Professional Services Procurement Act. See Tex. Gov't Code sec. 2254.002(2)(a)(ii). The PSPA prohibits selecting a provider of the listed professional services by competitive bid. Instead, you have to follow the statute's process of seeking qualifications and then negotiating with the most highly qualified respondent to reach a mutually acceptable contract. If that fails, you move the next most highly qualified, rinse and repeat.

Architects are like lawyers. There are really good ones out there. There also are some horror stories waiting to recur. Good luck!