Rated ‘needs improvement,’ engineering firm is up for a renewal worth up to $500,000

Fulton County Public Works is asking commissioners to renew up to $500,000 in engineering services with Benchmark Management, despite an attached county review that rates the firm “needs improvement” and describes communication problems requiring county intervention and a halt to project activities.⁠[1][2]

The proposal is on the Georgia county commissioners’ November 18 agenda. It is part of a $2 million package setting ceilings of $500,000 each for Benchmark, Jacobs Engineering Group, Prime Engineering and Gresham Smith, covering January 1 through September 30, 2027. The agenda says no renewal options remain.⁠[1]

Benchmark’s performance evaluation covers April–June 2026. Its overall score was 69 out of 100, the top of the county’s “needs improvement” band; project management received 10 out of 20. The evaluator cited coordination problems with subcontractors and communication with affected property owners and community members that “required County intervention and cessation of all project activities.”⁠[2]

The assessment was not uniformly negative. It rated scheduling, design deliverables and construction support satisfactory, and contract-compliance oversight excellent, noting “No issues with compliance.” The scheduling comments nevertheless said deadlines had been amended for most projects and the new deadlines were not always met.⁠[2]

Public Works recommends approval, saying its ability to address water and sewer needs quickly would be compromised without the contracts. Its staff narrative also says no community issues or concerns had been brought to the department’s attention and no issues or concerns had been raised by department staff.⁠[3]

The narrative does not reconcile those statements with the earlier evaluation. The evaluation does not name the affected project or include a response from Benchmark, and these records do not establish whether the communication problems were later resolved or the halted work resumed.⁠[2][3]

The proposed contracts would supplement county staff with planning, design and technical help as needed—not authorize a single named construction project. Possible assignments include pipelines, pumping stations and water reclamation facilities. Public Works provides water service in North Fulton and sewer service to cities in the county outside Atlanta; the renewal would draw on its Water & Sewer R&E account.⁠[3]