BTU Underground Cable Testing Services

Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) is soliciting proposals for non-destructive diagnostic testing services on 15kV underground cable, with proposals due September 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM CST and a written-question deadline of September 16, 2026. No set-asides or local-vendor preferences are identified.

The scope encompasses testing of approximately 150 single-phase loop-fed cables and 20 three-phase radial circuits (60 individual cables total) across BTU's service territory in Brazos, Burleson, and Robertson counties. Single-phase testing occurs during standard business hours (Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM); three-phase testing occurs after-hours or weekends. Offerors must provide detailed descriptions of proposed testing methodology, step-by-step processes, expected results, case studies from the past two years, project implementation plans, resource requirements, and deliverables. Pricing proposals should include unit pricing on per-circuit, per-foot, per-hour, or per-day bases with estimated total project costs and separate overtime rates for weekend and after-hours work.

Service providers must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits, Business Automobile Liability insurance with $1,000,000 per accident limits, and Workers' Compensation insurance with Texas statutory limits.

The initial contract term is twelve months with firm fixed prices, renewable for up to four additional one-year periods for a maximum contract duration of five years. Contract award is targeted for January 2027, with project initiation scheduled for March 2027. Evaluation criteria allocate 35 percent to methodology and technical approach, 20 percent each to qualifications and rates, 15 percent to references, and 10 percent to project timeline. Proposals are submitted electronically or sealed, with public acknowledgement occurring simultaneously via Zoom. BTU reserves the right to terminate the contract with thirty days' written notice or for cause with five days' written notice.