ESBD_496448_1775686302556_582-27-00005_Environ-Lab-Assess_Addenda-1_ESBD.pdf

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087, MC 182

Austin, Texas 78711-3087

Addendum 1 Environmental Laboratory Assessments Page 1 of 2

Addendum Number 1

Request for Proposal (RFP) Solicitation 582-27-00005 Environmental Laboratory Assessments

April 8, 2026

EXTENDED PROPOSAL DUE DATE: April 24, 2026, no later than 3:00 p.m. (CT)

Deadline Extension and Updated Historically Underutilized Business Program (HUB) Guidance:

This addendum provides updated guidance to help vendors understand the new HUB requirements and extends the proposal submission deadline.

HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) Courtesy Reviews Courtesy reviews are available until April 14th at 12:00 p.m. CT.

• GFE Method 1 Note: If you are using Good Faith Effort (GFE) Method 1, you may submit your HSP for review as soon as you have sent the required email notifications. You do not need to wait for responses to submit your plan.

Updated Proposal Deadline To ensure all parties have sufficient time to review this information, the proposal due date has been extended to April 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT.

ISSUED BY:

Yvette Owens, Contract Specialist

Date: 4/8/2026

Note to Respondent: Respondent is requested to acknowledge receipt of this addendum by signing and dating on the space below, and including this page along with your response.

Responses may be considered non-responsive if this cover page is not signed and returned. To view the solicitation package, visit the Texas Marketplace website at http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp.

Signature/Date http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087, MC 182

Austin, Texas 78711-3087

Addendum 1 Environmental Laboratory Assessments Page 2 of 2

Addendum Number 1

Request for Proposal (RFP) Solicitation 582-27-00005

Environmental Laboratory Assessments

*Important Notice to Vendors*

This addendum contains updated HUB Guidance. Please review the following attachment:

Exhibit A – TCEQ Updated Historically Underutilized Business Program (HUB) Guidance.

Note: This information is provided for reference only. Do not include Exhibit A or any of the following content in your proposal submission.

Historically Underutilized

Business Program (HUB)

Claribel Diaz – HUB Program Coordinator

Exhibit A

Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program

• Active Vendor: Please, go to Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) to learn more.

• Texas Government Code (TGC) §2161.252: If a state agency determines that subcontracting opportunities are probable, the Solicitation must document the requirement of the HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP).

• 34 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §20.281 - §20.298: A Respondent may demonstrate good faith effort to utilize Texas certified HUBs for its subcontracting opportunities.

• 34 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §20.284: This rule states that each agency may achieve the statewide and/or agency-specific annual HUB goals.

• HUB Utilization Goals: On 12/2/2025, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) instructed each state agency to assign their own procurement HUB utilization goals. These goals are based on contracting directly with HUBs or indirectly through subcontracting opportunities.

Note: TCEQ’s new procurement HUB utilization goals are 1.0% for each procurement category: Special Trades, Professional Services, Other Services and Commodities. TCEQ does not have Construction contracts.

• HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP): If the HSP is required the Respondent must process one of the three Good Faith Efforts and submit with their proposal.

State: The program was created to promote full and equal procurement opportunities to small businesses.

Subcontracting and meeting/exceeding the contract HUB

Goal with Texas certified HUB vendors that you do not have a continuous contract in place for more than five

(5) years and Non-HUBs.

HSP Attachment A CMBL vendor profiles required!

GFE 3

Meeting/ Exceeding HUB Goal

Use this GFE if you are subcontracting all the work with Texas certified HUB vendors only.

HSP Attachment A

CMBL vendor profiles required!

GFE 2

Active HUBs

GFE 1

Solicitation

Method

Good Faith Efforts (GFE)

Use this GFE if you are subcontracting any portion of the contract to Texas certified HUB vendors and

Non-HUB vendors or only to Non-HUB vendors.

HSP Attachment B

CMBL vendor profiles required!

If active vendors are not found, please submit a copy of the search page:

“Vendors Not Found.”

• Follow the HSP Checklist to complete your HSP:

VetHUB Subcontracting Plan Form (PDF)

• Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL):

https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/tp asscmblsearch.do

• If processing GFE 1 - Email notifications to a minimum of 3 active HUBs from the CMBL and a minimum of 2 trade organization or development centers will be required. In addition, copies of these email notifications and active HUB CMBL profiles will be needed with the HSP.

If you will not be subcontracting any portion of the contract and will be fulfilling the entire contract with your own resources, ensure this is stated in your HSP.

Self- Perform

Self- Perform

Due to changes in the Program, if further clarification regarding the HSP is needed, please contact: VetHUBProgram@cpa.texas.gov.

GFE 1 – Solicitation Method – 7 Working Days Example

If processing GFE 1 - Email notifications to a minimum of 3 active HUBs from the CMBL and a minimum of 2 trade organizations or development centers will be required. In addition, copies of these email notifications and active HUB CMBL profiles will be needed with the HSP.

The notifications must have the “7 working days deadline” provided in the body of the email.

The 7 working days deadline doesn’t include:

Email notifications submission day

Weekends State Holidays TCEQ Agency Closures (example, closed due to bad weather)

Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

Federal: Entities owned and/or controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as described by Title X of the Clean Air Act Amendments.

• Title 40 Part 33 - Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

• Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) are entities that are at least 51% owned and/or controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual.

• Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBEs) are entities that are at least 51% owned and/or controlled by women.

• EPA’s Class under 40 CFR Part 33 - On March 17, 2025, suspended the above reporting for all agencies that receive federal funding. However, Primes must continue to report their MBE/WBE subcontracting payments to the agency. TCEQ will continue to track these payments for future reference.

• For the latest updates regarding this program go to: https://www.epa.gov/resources-small-businesses/disadvantaged-business-enterprise-program-resources.

• Check the Solicitation to see if EPA’s DBE Program is also a Contract requirement.

Important Reminders HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP):

Ensure all your subcontractors are listed in the HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP).

Key Personnel Tab - Reminder:

All “1099 employees” must be listed in your proposal’s Key Personnel tab. These are considered “subcontractors”.

HSP Signature (and reminders if awarded):

Don’t forget to read the reminders and sign your HSP!

Internal policy: HSP vendors’ CMBL profiles must be submitted with the HSP.

TAC 34, Rule §20.285:

Responses without the HSP submitted shall be rejected due to material failure to comply with Government Code, §2161.252(b).

Progress Assessment Report (PAR): The awarded Prime must complete and submit the PAR with each invoice.

The TCEQ HSP Courtesy Review is recommended. The TCEQ HUB Program will not review any HSPs submitted after the assigned HSP Courtesy Review deadline.

TCEQ HUB Program Coordinator

Claribel Diaz – HUB Program Coordinator claribel.diaz@tceq.texas.gov