Move Outside the Predictable

When Berkeley Springs Instruments (BSI) was in search of a new location, a public-private partnership was formed with Allegany County Government, affording them the chance to remain in Allegany County and strategize for future expansion — all to the benefit of both the company and the community.

BSI has been in business for more than 35 years. They manufacture ultrasonic sensors used to monitor the health and integrity of pipelines. The process is done entirely in-house, with BSI staff designing, building, deploying, and monitoring the specialized devices once they are in use. BSI sensors are primarily sold in North America and have sales operations throughout the country, but all the manufacturing takes place in Allegany County, says President Gene Silverman

Yesterday, April 20th, 2023, the Allegany County Commissioners approved a motion to publish a request for proposal (RFP) for the redevelopment of the roughly 12 acres located at the site of the former Allegany High School. The County is seeking developers to build market-rate, owner occupied housing on the site.

The County will be leveraging grant funds to build infrastructure and conduct sitework, so that units will remain affordable to the average homebuyer. The County hopes to target a per-unit price of $200,000 to $250,000 for 80% of units and $250,000 to $300,000 per unit for 20% of the units.

Those entities interested in submitting a proposal may find the RFP and its requirements at the County's website or by visiting eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) under project name "Request for Proposals: Development of Market Rate Housing on County Owned Land (Cumberland, MD)."

During the initial period of the bid opening, all potential bidders may ask questions until Monday, May 22, 2023. All questions will be answered in a timely manner that corresponds with Allegany County Procurement Policy and the Maryland Procurement Manual, and shall be published within 48 hours of the close of questioning, with all questions to be published as an addendum no later than close of business (4:00 PM EDT) of Wednesday, May 24, 2023. 

Bids will no longer be accepted after the close of the bid period, which is Friday, June 30, at close of business (4:00 PM EDT). Once all bids have been received, they will be unsealed and sent to the review committee the following Monday, July 3, 2023. The review committee will take three weeks to review all bids and select winners. The target date for announcing the winners will be Thursday, July 28, 2023. However, depending on the volume of bids received, this may be subject to change, but will be clearly communicated. 

Please direct all queries regarding the project to Adam Strott, Economic Development Specialist, at astrott@alleganygov.org.