County finds bid protest without merit

By ROB LARSON
Daily Press Staff Writer
After reviewing the formal written protest submitted by NCA Architects in the hopes of building the new headquarters of the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy County Manager Allen Sartin discussed his report Tuesday with the Eddy County Commission, which ultimately determined the protest was without merit.
On Aug. 7, the bid to build the new facility was awarded to Van H. Gilbert, an Albuquerque architectural firm. The firm beat out 31 other inquiries from around the country. On Aug. 16, NCA Architects, also stationed in Albuquerque, filed a formal written protest. … For the rest of the story, subscribe in print and on the web.
“Respectfully, we do protest the ranking of the architects in this proposal,” Larry Anderson said to the commission on Aug. 7. “In all honesty, I guess we don’t understand how we wouldn’t have more understanding of that project than any other firm that would have been submitting for this project, having been the author, having met with the commission, and having a very intimate understanding of what this project is going to be.”
After carefully reviewing the protest for roughly a month, Sartin produced a briefing paper and distributed it to all Eddy County commissioners as well as Eddy County Attorney Cas Tabor.
“I produced for you a briefing paper discussing all the issues that I saw in the process and whether or not we were complying with state law or if there was any undue bias in the process,” Sartin said to the commission. “I also individually reviewed each of the claims made in the protest letter. Based on my review, I do not find that there is merit in the protest.”
Find nothing in Sartin’s review that conflicted with state laws or statutes, Tabor told the commission he approved of the findings.