As needed plumbing services, testing, repairs, and emergency response calls at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease located in San Antonio, TX

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB HHS0016775) for as-needed plumbing services at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease in San Antonio, Texas, classified as a Special Trades Contract under NIGP codes 910-60, 914-68, 934-64, and 981-54. Posted on January 13, 2026, the solicitation deadline for bid submission is February 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM Central Time, with an optional on-site visit scheduled for January 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM and a question deadline of January 22, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The required services encompass comprehensive plumbing maintenance, repairs, testing, emergency response calls, fixture upgrades, backflow prevention device certification, fixture replacement, and major repairs or replacement of sewer, natural gas, and water main systems, with the contractor required to furnish all labor, tools, transportation, equipment, materials, parts, and supplies. Services must be performed Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time with one-hour emergency response time, and after-hours emergency services are available with prior written approval at separate rates; the contractor must maintain a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week monitored telephone line and provide priced job estimates prior to performing work except in emergencies. Minimum qualifications require the bidder to have five years of relevant plumbing experience and assigned personnel to have three years of experience, with all personnel required to hold appropriate Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and certifications for sewer, domestic water, reverse osmosis water, natural gas systems, and backflow protection. Bidding must include firm, fixed pricing on the provided Exhibit C Pricing Sheet covering service call charges, hourly labor rates for four plumber classifications (Master, Journeyman, Tradesman-Limited, and Apprentice), separate overtime rates, and markup percentages on parts not to exceed 20%, with the initial contract term running from award through August 31, 2028, and no renewal options, though HHSC reserves the right to extend for up to one additional year. Required insurance includes workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, commercial automobile liability of $1,000,000, professional liability of $1,000,000, and umbrella liability of $1,000,000, and all work is guaranteed against defects in workmanship for one year from completion.

This procurement is designated as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Special Trades Contract with a statewide HUB utilization goal of 32.9% based on the 2009 State of Texas Disparity Study, and all respondents, regardless of HUB certification status, are required to submit a completed HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) or face disqualification as non-responsive. Respondents must select one of five good-faith effort methods: Method I (using only certified HUBs), Method II (Mentor-Protege Program participation), Method III (meeting or exceeding the HUB goal with mixed HUB and non-HUB subcontractors), Method IV (solicitation of at least three HUBs and two trade organizations with minimum seven working days notice), or Method V (self-performance using only internal resources). All bidders must complete and submit Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit D (Bidder Reference and Contractor Qualifications Form with minimum three verifiable references from the last three years), Exhibit F (HUB Subcontracting Plan), Form 4109 (Application for Texas Identification Number), and signed Addendum Acknowledgement Forms if applicable, with the primary contact for the procurement being Leticia C. Cortes at HHS Purchasing (512-406-2609) and HUB Coordinator Cheryl Bradley available for HSP courtesy reviews (512-406-2529, Cheryl.Bradley@hhs.texas.gov). The solicitation does not identify incumbent vendors, existing contract values, or guaranteed compensation volumes, as HHSC makes no guarantee of work volume and reserves the right to cancel the IFB or reject any or all responses. Responses may be submitted electronically through the optional HHS Online Bid Room or through traditional methods, with late submissions not accepted, and noncompliance with any HSP requirements constitutes a material breach of contract subject to debarment from state contracting for up to five years.