Construction Materials Testing for TJJD New Detention Facilities

The Texas Facilities Commission has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Construction Materials Testing (CMT) and special inspections services for two new Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) detention facilities located in Ellis County (Waxahachie) and Brazoria County (Rosharon). The project involves comprehensive materials testing services during all construction phases, including deep foundation inspection, structural steel testing, concrete observation, soils testing, and fire-resistant materials inspection. The CMT services will support the construction of two advanced juvenile justice facilities totaling approximately 263,578 square feet, with one facility focused on mental health and another on violent/aggressive populations. Key procurement dates include the RFQ posting on August 5, 2025, mandatory pre-submittal conferences on August 19-20, 2025, proposal submission deadline of September 2, 2025 at 3:00 PM, potential interviews on September 23, 2025, and contract award by October 16, 2025. Evaluation criteria will assess relevant experience and qualifications (50 points), proposed methodology (30 points), and quality assurance/quality control (20 points), with a contract term anticipated to be approximately 30 months and substantial completion expected in Summer 2028.

The procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting requirement with a 23.7% goal for professional services contracts. Respondents must provide professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 and comply with various state requirements, including E-Verify, criminal background checks, and cybersecurity training. The project is funded through a $200 million General Revenue appropriation from the 88th Texas Legislature, with the selected firm required to work independently from the Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager at Risk while coordinating closely with all project stakeholders. The facilities are designed to modernize Texas's juvenile detention system by creating secure, rehabilitative environments with therapeutic spaces, educational facilities, and advanced security technologies. Respondents must complete a HUB Subcontracting Plan through the B2G system and may choose from four compliance methods: 100% HUB Participation, Meet the Goal, Good Faith Effort Solicitation, or Self-Performing. The project team includes CBRE as site acquisition representative, Kleinfelder Engineering for site due diligence, and Broaddus Planning for program requirements, with final architect/engineer selection pending.