RFP730-25000 Houston Science Center New Fire Alarm Panel, Pump Replacement and Fire Sprinkler System

The University of Houston has issued Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFP730-25000) for a comprehensive fire safety system upgrade at the Houston Science Center, located in Harris County, Texas. The project involves replacing the existing fire alarm panel, fire pump, and installing a new fire sprinkler system, with technical specifications prepared by HUITT-ZOLLARS. The scope of work includes all necessary labor, equipment, materials, and supplies for the renovation, with key deliverables including a fully upgraded fire safety infrastructure. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Cost and Delivery Proposal (40%), qualifications and experience with renovation/upgrades (40%), construction team qualifications (5%), construction execution plan (5%), project planning/scheduling (5%), and safety management program (5%). The project timeline includes a mandatory pre-proposal conference held on January 15, 2025, tunnel site visits on January 22-23, 2025, a questions deadline of February 10, 2025, and proposal submissions due on February 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM CT. The contract period is 275 days from notice to proceed, with liquidated damages of $210 per day for late completion.

The procurement includes a mandatory 21.1% Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting goal, requiring all bidders to submit a comprehensive HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) with their proposal. Contractors must provide extensive insurance coverage, including $1M Commercial General Liability, $5M Professional Liability, Workers Compensation, $1M Commercial Auto Liability, Installation Floater coverage, and $5M Excess Liability/Umbrella coverage. Additionally, payment and performance bonds are required, and contractors must comply with Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage rates for Harris County. The pre-proposal meeting sign-in sheet indicates interest from multiple companies, including State Fire, Janmar Electric, Vaughn Construction, Whiting-Turner, Pye-Barker, TunnelTech, Western States Fire Protection, Summit Fire + Security, and Huitt-Zollars. While no specific budget range was disclosed, the comprehensive insurance and bonding requirements suggest a significant project investment. The University has provided extensive documentation, including a SharePoint video tutorial for HSP paperwork completion, to support potential bidders in understanding and meeting the project requirements.