Commissioners approve recommendation to award detention‑center needs assessment to A and E Design

Yellowstone County commissioners approved a recommendation May 7 to award a needs assessment for the county’s adult detention center to A and E Design after a staff‑led request for qualifications and interview process.

County staff said the RFQ, released March 12, asked for firms with experience to develop a comprehensive needs assessment that would include current conditions and a 20‑year plan broken into five‑year increments analyzing demographics, population and crime statistics. Staff said multiple qualified firms applied, the procurement process followed Montana selection procedures for professional services and the interview committee narrowed respondents and conducted interviews before making a unanimous recommendation to select A and E Design.

Shane (first introduced to the board during the presentation) said, "I feel that we put together a really good RFQ," and staff thanked Shane for serving as the county’s owner’s representative during the solicitation. A motion to approve the recommendation was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The action at the May 7 meeting was a recommendation/award approved by the board; contract execution, scope details and a budget allocation were not discussed in detail at the meeting and were not included in the record.