New Hanover County Commissioners will consider awarding Monteith Construction a $19 million contract for the county’s new Department of Health and Social Services building.

The item is marked on the commissioner’s agenda for its regular meeting at 4 p.m. June 19.

The county sold its old property at the corner of 17th Street and Savannah Court, the location of its Health Department’s main administrative building and clinic as well as a mental health crisis facility, for $19 million last year to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

NHRMC requested to purchase the property, which is adjacent to its main campus, to allow for flexibility in parking and future expansion of the hospital, according to the county’s Oct. 17 agenda. Commissioners unanimously approved the sale in October.

The county plans to use proceeds from that sale for a new building that will house both the county health and social services departments. The construction site for the new building will be behind the current DSS facility at 1650 Greenfield St.

Monteith Construction was one of five firms that showed interest in the project. If approved, the contract of $19 million will include the costs of construction and construction manager at risk services.

The project is totaled at more than $23.1 million, and includes about $1.5 million budgeted for fiscal year 2017 and $21.6 million in the recommended 2018 capital improvement plan, according to the agenda.

Offices at the current facilities will remain in use during construction, with no service interruptions to either of those departments, county officials said. The construction site for the new building will be behind the current building on Greenfield Street.

County officials have said the new facility will better serve the needs of clients.