Water Improvements at El Paso Psychiatric Center

This is a Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals issued by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for Water Improvements at El Paso Psychiatric Center (Project No. 24-001-EPC) located at 4615 Alameda Avenue in El Paso, Texas. The procurement seeks a general contractor to design and construct an additional domestic water service line to bring the facility into compliance with International Plumbing Code standards. The project scope includes installation of new domestic water service from an existing 8-inch water main along Boll Place through a new meter vault and pressure reducing valve to final connections inside the building, with El Paso Water responsible for installing the service tap and meter while the contractor extends the service line from the meter to the building interior. The contractor must serve as the Owner's Representative for coordinating El Paso Water's scope of work and must budget a $45,000 contingency fund for this external utility coordination. Deliverables include comprehensive construction in accordance with 2021 International Building Code standards, submission of detailed shop drawings and submittals, temporary plumbing systems to maintain facility operations during construction, photographic documentation of existing conditions, and achievement of Substantial Completion within 120 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed. Respondents must demonstrate a minimum of five years of business experience in similar construction projects, financial solvency with surety company documentation of bonding capacity, and submission of three references from comparable projects. The evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Relevant Construction Services Ability and Experience (30%), Quality and Safety Programs (5%), Proposed Methodology (25%), and Pricing (40%), with award to be made on a best-value basis to the lowest-priced qualified respondent. A pre-proposal webinar is scheduled for May 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, with a mandatory facility site visit on May 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time at 4615 Alameda Avenue. The deadline for submitting questions is May 26, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Central Time, with proposals due by June 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time and public opening scheduled for June 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time.

This procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan requirement with a utilization goal of 32.9%, applicable to all respondents regardless of HUB certification status and mandatory for this project valued at approximately $300,000. All respondents must submit a completed HUB Subcontracting Plan demonstrating good-faith effort to utilize HUBs in subcontracting opportunities through one of five prescribed methods, with failure to submit a compliant plan resulting in automatic disqualification. Probable subcontracting opportunities have been identified in NIGP classifications including plumbing equipment maintenance, water system maintenance, and construction equipment rental. All respondents must execute affirmations regarding suspension and debarment status, franchise tax compliance, E-Verify enrollment, child support obligations, compliance with prohibitions on human trafficking and Israel boycotts, and other statutory certifications required by Texas state law. Respondents must submit bid security equal to at least 5% of the Total Base Proposal Cost as a cashier's check, certified check, or original bid bond, with performance and payment bonds required in the amount of 100% of the contract price within ten calendar days of contract award. No incumbent contractor is identified in the solicitation materials. The anticipated Notice of Award is September 16, 2026, with a contract start date of October 16, 2026, and project completion no later than August 31 of the following year, with HHSC retaining the discretionary right to extend the contract for up to six additional months beyond final substantial completion at the then-current contract rate. Liquidated damages are assessed at $150.00 per calendar day for failure to meet the Substantial Completion deadline, and the contractor must maintain Pollution Liability Insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per claim and $1,000,000 aggregate for a ten-year period following project completion.