The Purchasing Department sent out over thirteen-hundred (1300) notifications with fifty-six (56) document takers and received five (5) bid submittals. The bids have been reviewed and the apparent low bidder, Joe Bland Construction, LP, was found to be responsive and materially balanced. The lowest bid was $272,162.58 lower than the Engineering Estimate, a cost savings of 6.0%. The bidding was competitive with the lowest two bidders being within 3.2% of each other. In addition to meeting the bid qualifications Joe Bland Construction, LP has a successfully completed previous projects for Williamson County including CR 176 at RM 2243 Intersection, CR 119- Limmer Loop to Chandler Rd, and Ronald Reagan Blvd. at Santa Rita Ranch. Based on the quality of work performed by the contractor and favorable working relationship with the County and its Representatives, HNTB concurs with the recommendation of the Design Engineer, LJA, for award of the Southwest Bypass Extension (SH29 to Wolf Ranch) construction to Joe Bland Construction, LP, in the amount of $4,288,543.00. The funding source is Road Bond P352 and the Point of Contact for HNTB is Danette Chamberlin.