Muntz Library Stair Renovation

The University of Texas at Tyler is soliciting competitive sealed proposals for general contractor services for the Muntz Library Stair Renovation project (RFP No. 750-25/26-006). The project encompasses supervision, materials, equipment, and labor for replacement of the existing open stair handrail system and stair finishes, along with related flooring replacement across multiple floors in Robert R. Muntz Library, located at 3900 University Boulevard, Tyler, Texas. Deliverables include demolition of existing components, installation of glazed decorative metal railings with glass gates and laminated glass balusters (basis of design: Livers Bronze Struct-U-Rail), gypsum board finishing, ceramic tile installation on first through fourth floors, luxury vinyl floor tile, walk-off carpet tile, interior painting, and resilient base installation. The scope encompasses a $50,000 contingency allowance for owner/architect-directed changes and unanticipated items discovered during demolition, with three alternate proposals available for ceramic tile flooring replacement options on individual floors. Respondents must demonstrate qualifications, experience, and project management capabilities (weighted at 70 percent of evaluation), with pricing and delivery proposals weighted at 30 percent, and submit electronically via BonfireHub by March 31, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. A mandatory pre-submittal conference and guided site tour is scheduled for March 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the College of Pharmacy Building, Room 234, with RFP clarification requests due by March 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. The anticipated contract execution date is April 16, 2026, with a Notice to Proceed on April 27, 2026, Substantial Completion scheduled for August 7, 2026, and Final Completion for August 21, 2026, with liquidated damages assessed at $250 per calendar day for failure to meet the Substantial Completion deadline.

Respondents must submit a VetHUB Subcontracting Plan, indicating compliance with Texas veteran small business subcontracting requirements and demonstrating good-faith efforts to award subcontracts to Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), with subcontracting opportunities identified in selective demolition, metal work, sealants, insulation, roofing, general construction, electrical, mechanical, and landscaping. The selected contractor must comply with prevailing wage rate requirements for Smith County, Texas, as specified on the Davis-Bacon wage database, and must provide performance and payment bonds equal to 100 percent of the contract price within ten days of best value notification. All contractors must meet Texas statutory requirements including franchise tax certification, child support delinquency verification, Executive Order GA-48 compliance regarding foreign adversaries, and participation in the Owner Controlled Insurance Program with minimum commercial general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence. The University of Texas at Tyler is exempt from paying sales, excise, and use taxes on project materials, and contractors must issue resale certificates to suppliers accordingly. Work is restricted to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with construction activities confined to the designated project site while maintaining access to all campus roads, drives, fire lanes, sidewalks, and pedestrian routes. The award will be made to the respondent offering the best value in a lump-sum agreement, with the specific contract award value to be determined based on responsive proposals received.