Install Upgrades to Existing Fire Alarm System

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued Invitation for Bids (IFB) HHS0016984 on January 27, 2026, for fire alarm system upgrades at the DSHS facility located at 4615 Alameda Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79905. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to design and install a compliant fire alarm system including all necessary materials, equipment, and wiring; perform inspection and testing in accordance with NFPA 72 standards; provide maintenance documentation; and conduct personnel training. Bidders must submit responses by February 10, 2026, at 10:30 AM CST, with mandatory attendance at an on-site visit scheduled for February 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM (failure to attend will result in disqualification). The deadline for questions and clarifications is February 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM NOON, with responses posted as an addendum by February 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Qualified bidders must demonstrate a minimum of 20 years of relevant fire alarm system experience, assign personnel with at least five years of experience holding NICET Level 4 Certification, provide three verifiable references for similar contracts completed within the last five years, and submit evidence of fire alarm testing, inspection, and documentation capabilities in accordance with State Fire Marshal requirements. Required submissions include completed Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet with firm, fixed prices covering all labor, equipment, materials, and supplies), Exhibit D (Bidder Reference and Qualifications Form), NICET Level 4 Certification documentation, and financial capability information demonstrating solvency and operational capacity. The initial contract term begins upon date of award and expires August 31, 2026, with one optional one-year extension at HHSC's sole discretion; contractors must maintain a 30-mile radius proximity to the service location and respond to service calls within four hours during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Time) and within one hour for emergency services.

The solicitation documents do not specify any designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, women-owned businesses, or other protected classifications. Bidders must comply with comprehensive federal and state statutory requirements including suspension and debarment status verification, human trafficking prohibitions, franchise tax compliance, E-Verify program participation, cybersecurity training certification, and compliance with Texas restrictions on abortion funding, gender transition procedures, and boycotts of Israel and energy companies. All work products and intellectual property developed under the contract are owned exclusively by the System Agency, with contractors retaining ownership only of pre-existing works incorporated into deliverables. Required insurance coverage includes workers' compensation, commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), professional liability ($1,000,000), and umbrella liability ($1,000,000). No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents; pricing must be submitted as firm, fixed prices on Exhibit C and may be adjusted only at HHSC's sole discretion using the Consumer Price Index formula specified in the IFB or based on federal minimum wage increases. No volume, usage, or compensation is guaranteed, and all contracts are subject to appropriations and availability of funds.