During a special meeting held at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026, the Dare County Board of Commissioners took action to advance the Buxton terminal groin repair project by rejecting the lowest bid received ($5.8 million) after determining the bidder could not meet the project's required construction schedule. The board then voted to move forward with the next lowest qualified bidder, SJ Hamill Construction Company, at $8.6 million. County officials noted that funding is available for the project and restarting the bidding process would likely have resulted in similar project costs while also delaying construction.

At its regularly scheduled meeting held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Dare County Board of Commissioners had voted to proceed with the lowest bid received for the project while continuing its due diligence review and reserving the right to revisit the award if any concerns or issues arose during the evaluation process. Following that review, county staff identified concerns regarding the lowest bidder’s ability to meet the project schedule and begin work within the timeframe needed for the repair project. As a result of those findings, the bidder was determined to be non-responsible, giving the board the authority to reject the bid and consider the next lowest qualified bidder rather than restarting the entire bidding process. 

During the special meeting held on Monday, June 15, 2026, commissioners voted to reject the lowest bid and to award the contract to the second lowest bidder, SJ Hamill Construction Company, which has the experience, resources and project history necessary to successfully complete this type of coastal construction.*

SJ Hamill Construction Company is expected to begin mobilization of equipment immediately, with construction anticipated to begin in August. The lowest bidder would not have been able to begin construction until October, significantly delaying the project, which will be performed in conjunction with the upcoming beach nourishment project in Buxton. The Buxton terminal groin repair project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. However, if weather or material lead times create issues with the construction schedule, the contractor must have the project fully completed by June 1, 2027.

The contractor will utilize the same construction methods that were planned under the original bid.

In addition to awarding the contract, the Board of Commissioners authorized Dare County Manager Bobby Outten to approve the related budget amendment necessary for the project.

The Buxton terminal groin repair project is a critical infrastructure investment designed to maintain the structure’s effectiveness in protecting shoreline stability and managing erosion occurring along the oceanfront in Buxton.

*Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard and Commissioner Ervin Bateman attended the special meeting virtually, and while they were present for the discussion, they were not eligible to vote on the matter.

To view a video of the special meeting on Dare County’s YouTube channel, visit YouTube.com/DareCounty.