Albemarle has asked three short-listed firms to bid on Eastern Avenue South Connection and Boulders Road Extension

All of the major construction projects on Albemarle roadways are currently being overseen by the Virginia Department of Transportation, but the county government is moving ahead with two key projects at a rate much faster than usual.

Earlier this year, Albemarle asked companies to submit their qualifications to be able to both design and build the Eastern Avenue South Connection and Boulders Road Extended projects.

• The Eastern Avenue South Connection is to be a 3,000 linear foot two-lane undivided highway with a sidewalk and accommodations for bicycles. There will also be a “major structure” across Lickinghole Creek. Albemarle’s FY27 capital improvement program budget set aside $13.6 million of the project’s $17.3 million cost estimate.
• Boulders Road Extended is a 2,300 linear foot two-lane roadway that would run from a roundabout at Rivanna Futures toward U.S. 29. The county’s FY27 CIP has $40.3 million including $20 million for economic development that came about at the end of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s term.

Materials shown to potential contractors indicate that the range for a bundled project will be between $49 million and $58 million.

Three companies have been invited to submit technical proposals based on the request for qualifications. They are:

• Branch Civil, Inc.
• Curtis Contracting Inc.
• Shirley Contracting Company, LLC

Bids are due on February 2, 2027. Albemarle wants Boulders Road completed by June 2029 and Eastern Avenue completed by September 2030.

“The top ranked Offeror submitting the best value proposal will be recommended for\ Award,” reads the information material for that meeting.

This request for proposals is one of the first to go out through Albemarle’s new procurement system. Albemarle County recently transitioned to a new system called Vendor Access, a product of Tyler Technologies. That company’s software also powers the Civic Access system that allows the public to review applications for permits.

A challenge of reporting on local government in the second quarter of the 21st century is the frequent updating of software used by localities as they go about the business of providing services. There’s a learning curve each time for both staff and anyone who looks at the public-facing side of the system.

Here’s some of what’s happening and what’s happened since the new system began:

• Albemarle County is seeking “Administrative Services for Medical, Pharmacy, Stop Loss, Dental plans, and Vision Benefit Plans” and bids are due on November 17. (learn more)
• A notice of award dated October 1, 2026 announced a sole source award was given on that date to Pictometry International Corporation for a project called Aerial Photography – Eagleview Direct. The notice cites §2.2-4303(E), Virginia’s procurement law, which allows that a “contract may be negotiated and awarded to that source without competitive sealed bidding or competitive negotiation.” A reason is to be documented in writing but the public notice only has to state that no other source was “practically available.” (see more)
• On September 20, 2026, the county published a notice announcing the award for another sole source contract to Dominion Energy for a project called “New Southern Feeder Pattern Elementary School – Solar Interconnection.” The award was officially given on October 10, 2026. (see more)
• On September 17, the county issued a notice that a sole source award would be given to the City of Charlottesville for a project with the description “EXTS CNTY Gas Service for Rivanna Futures Location.” The notice stated that the award would be awarded on September 17. An issue with these notices is that they point to the old system which tells you how to register for the new one. Another is that the new system tells us the award is expected to be awarded on September 27. Was it? (see more)
• There is no notice to award in the file for a project to replace a generator at one of the county office buildings. Bids were due on July 30, 2026 with an approximate award date listed as August 18, 2026. The status is listed as “closed.” (see more)
• The county tried again on the generator on a bid that is listed as “awarding” with a due date of September 1 and an award was expected by September 30. No notice to award yet. (see more)
• A project to replace the lights and shades in Lane Auditorium is also listed as “awarding.” Bids were due on August 4, 2026 with an approximate award date of September 1, 2026. No notice to award yet. (see more)
• Another “awarding” project is for professional services for roof replacements of local government and school buildings. These were due on July 8, 2026 and an award was expected on September 8, 2026. No notice to award yet. (see more)

For more on sole source awards, consult chapter 12 of the county’s procurement manual.

A question I have and ask here to see if anyone has an answer. Does the public have the ability to go and inspect the written justifications for sole source awards?

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Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the October 20, 2026 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement.  You can either subscribe through Substack or make a charitable contribution.