Capitol Bois D’Arc Wood Handrail Refinishing

The State Preservation Board of Texas has issued Request for Proposals (RFP 809-26-0004) for refinishing historic Bois D'Arc wood handrails located in the Texas State Capitol building. The project involves refinishing original 1888 wood handrails mounted on cast iron balustrades across four-story East and West Grand staircases and three-story service staircases in both east and west wings, totaling approximately 1,000 linear feet of handrails. Contractors must demonstrate at least 10 years of experience in artisan-level wood refinishing, with specific expertise in spray toning and in-place refinishing of historic wood surfaces. Work must be performed exclusively between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM to minimize disruption, with one grand staircase on each level remaining open during refinishing. The evaluation committee will utilize a 100-point scoring system weighted across five categories: historic wood refinishing experience (10 points), air brush custom wood staining experience (25 points), in-place refinishing experience (25 points), project schedule/timeline (20 points), and cost proposal (20 points). Key solicitation dates include an optional pre-solicitation webinar on December 9, 2025, question submission deadline of December 12, 2025, written answers release on December 18, 2025, and proposal submission deadline of January 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26 percent HUB goal, requiring all respondents to submit a completed plan regardless of HUB certification status. Contractors must maintain specific insurance coverages, including Workers Compensation, $1,000,000 Commercial General Liability, and $500,000 Automobile Liability. The project has a projected budget of $250,000 with firm fixed pricing required, and the anticipated contract term is 12 weeks for project completion. Respondents must provide references from three comparable projects completed within the last 10 years and will be subject to criminal background checks before commencing work. The State Preservation Board requires comprehensive site protection, specific refinishing techniques including shellac application and water-based colorant blending, and adherence to strict operational standards outlined in the Standard Owner Requirements document. Contractors must follow detailed specifications for surface preparation, finishing techniques, and site maintenance, with all work subject to SPB approval and potential modifications.