The Tarrant County Commissioners Court has recommended a project management partnership to JPS Health Network leaders to oversee a capital improvement plan approved by voters in November 2018.
The decision sets in motion plans for determining how to use up to $800 million in bond funds authorized by voters to shape and create facilities that will allow JPS to best serve its patients for the next 50 years.
“We appreciate the work of the Commissioners Court on this project,” said Adam Lane, Vice President and Chief Facilities Management Officer at JPS. “This project is something that will give us the opportunity to meet the needs of the community and fulfill our mission to provide quality patient healthcare for everyone who needs it, including the underserved, now and into the future.”
The Commissioners Court on Sept. 14 held a workshop to review proposals from four companies. It was decided at that time to put off making a final decision for two weeks. At its Sept. 29 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to pursue the plan presented by a partnership of Broaddus & Associates and LeVis Consulting Group. It is now up to the Tarrant County Hospital District Board, which manages JPS, to work out contract terms with the project management firm.
Devan Allen, Commissioner for Precinct 2, said during the meeting she was glad the court decided to take two weeks to carefully consider the plans.
“It was especially important to me to do that, given the huge ramifications of this project and what it means for our county and for access to healthcare for our residents and, additionally, the return on investment for our taxpayers,” Allen said about the decision to wait on a vote.
Judge B. Glen Whitley said it was a tough job to select only one of the proposals.
“All the presentations were very good,” Whitley remarked following the vote. “Each (candidate) brought special things to the table. It was a very difficult decision. I know it’s been a long time coming.”
The Commissioners’ Court issued the request for proposal for a program manager nearly a year ago in November 2019 with a 5-0 vote.
At the time the bond referendum was approved, the money was authorized to “acquire, construct, improve, equip or enlarge facilities” of JPS Health Network. Targets selected by the Citizens Blue Ribbon Committee included a potential new hospital tower, a new mental and behavioral health hospital, new regional health centers, an ambulatory surgery center and a new cancer center.
Allen pledged during the Commissioners’ Court Hearing that the community will be updated soon and often on progress of the planning.
“I think it’s really important that we communicate to our community about the progress of this bond,” Allen said. “We would not be here if not for their support back in 2018.”
Lane said the Broaddus-LeVis partnership offered a multi-part, multi stage proposal that will begin with master planning and basic strategic planning over the next year.
“The Citizens Blue Ribbon Committee gave us a framework of what its members would like to see,” Lane said. “What we’re working on now is the programming, scope and schedule of those projects.”
For up-to-date information on the latest plans for the capital improvement project, visit the YesToJPS website.