The Socorro ISD Board of Trustees on Sept. 30 approved advancing contract negotiations with Parkhill, Smith & Cooper after a district review of responses to RFQ number E2616 for facilities planning and assessment services.

Liliana Fierro, the district’s director of construction, and Gabby Garcia, director of processing, told trustees that the purchasing department received eight responses and that an administrative review committee (including the CFO and director of maintenance) evaluated submissions and invited the top three firms to present. The committee recommended Parkhill, Smith & Cooper based on the scoring results.

"We believe this firm brings expertise, experience, and the strategic approach necessary to support the district's long term facilities planning and maintenance goals," Fierro said.

Trustees voted to move forward; the motion was made by Ms. Tragera and seconded by Ms. Caradea, and the board chair called the vote in favor. Staff said the item on Sept. 30 was a request for qualifications only; if trustees approve negotiations, the district will negotiate a scope and price with the recommended firm and present a contract for formal board approval. Gabby Garcia and the committee chair emphasized that the cost is still to be determined and will be negotiated and returned to the board.

Why it matters: the services covered by RFQ E2616 include a facility condition assessment, a long‑range facility master plan, a deferred maintenance plan, a preventive maintenance strategy and demographic/enrollment projections — studies that will inform capital and maintenance budgeting across the district.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about schedule and scope; staff responded that, upon approval of a negotiated contract, the firm will begin work under a board‑approved agreement and that budget impacts will be made explicit when the contract is returned for approval.

No dollar amount was approved on Sept. 30; trustees authorized staff to proceed to negotiations and required the negotiated contract to come back to the board for formal approval.