Alamogordo commission approves golf course RFP with maintenance included

The Alamogordo City Commission voted 6-0 on June 4 to approve the request for proposals for management of the municipal golf course as presented, a package that staff said includes maintenance in the base scope.

Acting City Manager Stephanie Hernandez told commissioners the RFP must proceed because previous contract extensions were reaching their limits and the current manager, Grant, had signaled plans to retire. “We were going to have to go out for RFP regardless,” Hernandez said, and added that Grant has agreed to remain through December to bridge the transition while staff finalizes the procurement timeline.

The commission debated whether to separate operations from maintenance in the solicitation. Commissioner Baxter Patillo proposed structuring the solicitation with a base bid for operations and an add-alternate for maintenance so the city could accept offers for operations alone, operations plus maintenance, or maintenance alone. Procurement staff (identified as Evelyn) advised that to ensure comparable proposals bidders would generally need to respond to both parts and said a maintenance manual would be provided as a reference in the RFP packet.

Commissioners also asked staff whether recent city budget approvals included additional staffing or equipment for the golf course; staff said the adopted budget did not add new golf-course staffing or equipment beyond previously authorized adjustments. Commissioners were repeatedly told that, if Grant’s contract were not extended, the pro shop and restaurant could be unmanned and the course could close until a contractor or manager was in place.

Commissioner Patillo moved to present the RFP as written; Commissioner Mark Tapley seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 6-0.

The item includes procurement and contract-timing constraints: staff said the original contract had previously been extended during the COVID period and that the city had reached the limit of allowable extensions; Hernandez said she is arranging a further extension for Grant through December while the RFP is issued and evaluated. The commission did not take additional action on any contract extension at the meeting and deferred legal review notes to staff.

Next steps: staff will publish the RFP consistent with the commission’s direction, include the maintenance manual as reference material, and return procurement recommendations to the commission as proposals are received and evaluated.