Automation

The University of Texas at Austin's Procurement and Payment Services is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for advisory services to support automation strategy development and early design integration for The Medical Complex Project. The procurement seeks a best-in-class advisory team to develop a comprehensive automation network that includes robotic transportation of materials, without procuring specific robotic equipment or vendors. The engagement spans three phases: Phase 1 (2-3 months) focusing on project setup, analysis, and use case definition; Phase 2 (4-5 months) for design integration support including Owner's Project Requirements and flow diagrams, with initial materials movement outputs due within 6-8 weeks; and Phase 3 (3-4 months) for standards, roadmap, and procurement readiness. Respondents will be evaluated on five weighted criteria totaling 100 points: Forward Looking Strategies and Designs (25%), Project Team Ability (20%), Past Representative Projects (15%), Management Procedures and Methods, and Problem Resolution Capabilities. Key deadlines include a pre-submittal conference on February 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM via Zoom, a question deadline of February 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM, and electronic submission through the University Bonfire Portal by February 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM, with evaluation committee scoring completed by February 26, 2026, short-listed firm interviews scheduled March 10-12, 2026, and contract award anticipated by March 30, 2026. The contract term is one year with options to renew for two additional one-year terms, plus potential month-to-month extensions not to exceed three months.

Respondents must submit a Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) Subcontracting Plan demonstrating good faith effort to utilize VetHUB-certified vendors, as subcontracting opportunities are probable. Required submission materials include a respondent's cover letter, comprehensive company information, statement of qualifications and availability, project team's ability to provide services, performance on past representative projects, management procedures and methods, approach to data analysis, and experience with forward-looking strategies. All respondents must comply with Texas Education Code provisions regarding best value procurement, provide financial documentation and disclosures for the past two years, certify compliance with Executive Order GA-48 regarding foreign adversaries, and provide a customer reference list of at least three organizations served within the past five years. No incumbent contractor information is provided in the solicitation documents. The RFQ does not specify pricing information or cost estimates, indicating that financial terms will be negotiated during contract discussions with selected respondents. The University has also indicated that it may pursue group purchasing opportunities with other Texas higher education institutions based on this solicitation.