Saline County Approves $47,290 Design Contract for Kipp Road Safety Project
The Saline County Commission approved a professional services agreement with Schwab-Eaton PA for design work on the Kipp Road Improvement Project, County Engineer Justin Mader told commissioners.
The project is funded through a $340,000 award from the Kansas Department of Transportation's High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) Program, which the commission accepted on April 7. According to Mader, the federal program covers up to 90% of construction and construction engineering costs for projects aimed at improving safety on rural roads.
The work on Kipp Road will run from K-4 Highway north to Country Club Road and will implement roadway departure countermeasures, including replacing guardrail at drainage structures and replacing other regulatory and warning signs along the route. Mader said the design could not be completed in-house without delaying other projects.
The county advertised a request for qualifications on May 15, and three qualified engineering firms submitted. Following the county's evaluation, Schwab-Eaton was determined the most qualified based on experience and its work delivering federally funded transportation projects. Mader noted the firm had a "leg up" because it helped prepare the county's HRRR application.
Mader explained that professional services are not competitively bid but are selected on a qualification basis, with the fee negotiated afterward. The agreement provides for a lump-sum fee of $47,290, with payments made as work is completed and extending into 2028. The cost will be paid out of the county's 124 special road construction account, which had a balance of $2,742,792.29.
Commissioners questioned how the fee was determined given that firms did not submit bids. Mader said the figure came from the selected firm and that he considered it "very, very competitive" based on his experience and comparisons with other counties. Construction bids are anticipated in July 2028. The commission approved the agreement (RFA 2026-84) by voice vote.