ITB - Renovation of the Distribution Center at the Michael Talbot Service Center for Harris County Flood Control District

Harris County Flood Control District is soliciting competitive sealed bids through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the comprehensive renovation of the Distribution Center at the Michael Talbot Service Center, located at 10700 Vine Crest Drive, Houston, Texas 77086 (Project ID Z100-00-00-X360). The project encompasses a complete 2nd floor buildout and expansion of approximately 15,000 square feet involving construction of a new 3-hour fire-rated second floor slab, installation of a 3-hour fire-rated wall separation between warehouse and office areas, addition of a new elevator, exterior emergency egress stair on the east side, and comprehensive interior buildout including insulation, finishes, lighting, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, audiovisual, telecommunications, and security systems, along with landscape improvements consisting of river rock installation and sod work around the building perimeter. The contract specifies a total contract time of 343 calendar days, including 68 calendar days allocated for inclement weather accommodation, with a liquidated damages rate of $1,000 per day for work remaining incomplete after the contract time expires, and requires submission of a schedule of values, preliminary construction schedule, and complete schedule of submittals within specified timeframes following award. Bids must be submitted online through the Bonfire procurement platform or as sealed hard copies by 2:00 P.M. local time in Houston, Texas on March 30, 2026, with a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit scheduled for March 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams; all bidders seeking to submit must attend this conference. A 10% contract contingency of the grand total bid amount is required to accommodate unknown conditions typical in renovation projects. Bidders must comply with all specifications established in the detailed Project Manual, architectural and structural drawing sets consisting of 94 sheets, and technical provisions addressing compliance with the 2018 International Building Code with Harris County amendments, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Fire Code, 2015 International Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, and the 2014 National Electric Code. Bid evaluation will be based on lowest and best offer in accordance with Texas law, with pricing on the bid table required to be all-inclusive of all labor, material, equipment, and associated costs without separate line item rates; pricing remains firm for the contract duration.

This procurement includes mandatory set-asides and participation requirements for Minority- and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE), requiring prime contractors and subcontractors to meet or exceed a specified M/WBE participation goal established by Harris County, with failure to demonstrate goal achievement or sufficient good faith efforts resulting in bid rejection; accepted M/WBE certifications include those from the City of Houston, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) program, Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP), National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC), Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and Women's Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA), and M/WBE firms must demonstrate Significant Local Presence by maintaining a business location in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, or Galveston counties or providing documentation of at least three contracts performed in the market area within the past three years. All contractors and subcontractors must comply with prevailing wage requirements established for Building Construction projects, with workers paid the greater of the applicable prevailing wage rate or Harris County's Contractor Minimum Wage of $21.65 per hour, along with mandatory workers' compensation insurance, general liability insurance, builder's risk insurance, and performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract price; prime contractors must submit OSHA 10 and 30 certifications for employees and managers prior to jobsite entry. The procurement includes mandatory heat protection safety requirements, worker safety record questionnaires requiring certifications regarding absence of OSHA violations and criminal convictions, and comprehensive worksite safety policies effective February 1, 2026, including daily safety inspections using a 16-point checklist and County Safety Inspector program authority to conduct unannounced site visits and issue immediate stop work orders. Bidders must submit Tax Residence Certification forms, Certificates of Interested Parties (Form 1295), Bid Acknowledgement forms, M/WBE Utilization Plans with Letters of Intent from certified M/WBE subcontractors, and proof of current M/WBE certifications; a bid bond or cashier's check guaranty equal to 5% of the total bid amount is required with all bids. While no specific incumbent contractor is identified in available documents, the award value is not explicitly stated in the solicitation materials, though the contract exceeds $100,000 and triggers performance and payment bond requirements, suggesting a substantial project value sufficient to require comprehensive bonding, prevailing wage compliance, and full safety and insurance program implementation.