Texas ? The University of Dallas in Irving has withdrawn its bid for the George W. Bush Presidential Library, leaving Southern Methodist University in Dallas as the only contender for the research center and associated public-policy institute.

“We’re disappointed we weren’t selected, obviously. But we are moving forward,” Harry Longwell, chairman of UD’s board of trustees, said at a Monday morning news conference.

“This land is a prime piece of property that could be involved in future developments.”

Longwell declined to say how much was spent preparing the bid. He said that much was raised from private sources and that the proposal did not cost the private Catholic university any money.

Bush’s library selection committee announced in December that it was entering negotiations with SMU alone for the project.

UD officials said Monday that they had envisioned a presidential library complex accompanied by a 250-acre “Freedom Park” with 43 oak trees planted in honor of each president through Bush.