RFQ for Engineering Site Services for New Public Health Laboratory (DSHS / DPHL2)

The Texas Facilities Commission is requesting qualifications for engineering site services for the new Public Health Laboratory (DSHS/DPHL2) project in Austin, with qualifications due September 23, 2026 at 3:00 PM. A mandatory pre-submittal teleconference is scheduled for either September 8 at 10:00 AM or September 9 at 2:00 PM. The contract is contingent upon continued availability of state funding.

The scope covers all site-related engineering services for a 220,000-square-foot facility comprising Biosafety Level 1 and 2 labs for newborn screening (200,000 gross square feet) and a separate Biosafety Level 3 facility (20,000 gross square feet) at 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas. Services span pre-design phase coordination and Phases 1 through 4, including environmental site assessments, geotechnical investigations, utility capacity reviews, archaeological investigations, transportation impact analysis, stormwater evaluation, and comprehensive reporting. All deliverables must be submitted electronically in formats and organization compliant with the Texas Facilities Commission's Architectural/Engineering Guidelines.

Respondents must hold Texas professional licensure, maintain professional liability insurance of at least $1 million, and complete criminal background checks for all on-site personnel within 15 days of award. A mandatory Subcontracting Plan demonstrating good faith effort to engage certified VetHUB (Veteran Heroes United in Business) subcontractors is required for all responses; self-performing firms must affirm internal completion of the entire contract, while subcontracting vendors must notify at least two qualified VetHUBs of each opportunity and allow a minimum of seven business days for responses.

The evaluation committee will score submittals on relevant experience and qualifications (60 points), proposed methodology (20 points), and quality assurance/quality control (20 points), with company information, litigation history, and subcontracting plan evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The anticipated contract term spans approximately 450 calendar days, commencing within ten days of the Notice to Proceed. Award notification is anticipated by October 22, 2026, with contract execution targeted for November 3, 2026. The approximate construction cost is estimated at $200 million. Compensation will be structured as a fixed fee with monthly proportional payments; reimbursable expenses include travel and lodging at Texas Comptroller rates, excluding travel within 100 miles of the contractor's principal place of business except for approved overnight stays.