Groundwater Study

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a professional services firm to conduct a comprehensive geological and hydrogeological study of the Main Campus under solicitation number 26PSS002, classified under NAICS code 541360 and set aside for the VetHUB program for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. The solicitation, posted on June 15, 2026, with a deadline of July 17, 2026, is a Request for Qualifications that explicitly prohibits inclusion of pricing or compensation information; instead, the most qualified respondents will be invited to submit a detailed proposal with pricing after an evaluation based on technical merit. Evaluation is weighted toward past project performance (30 points), planning capabilities (20 points), team ability (15 points), experience with higher education institutions (10 points), knowledge of best practices (10 points), and statement of qualifications (5 points). Respondents must submit two separate PDFs—qualifications and execution of offer—along with a VetHUB subcontracting plan, all adhering to strict formatting rules including a 50-page limit, 11-point font, portrait orientation, searchable PDF format, and bookmarked sections corresponding to evaluation criteria. Submissions must be made exclusively via UT Box using specified naming conventions. The study aims to analyze subsurface conditions beneath the campus using historical geotechnical data, GIS shapefiles, and infrastructure maps to evaluate impacts on current and future development, identify mitigation strategies for groundwater infiltration, and develop predesign guidelines and tools for ongoing updates. Deliverables include a GIS-based geodatabase owned by UT Austin, a groundwater infiltration report with risk classifications, and predesign requirements. The contract will be governed by Texas law and must comply with several state mandates, including certification under Governor’s Executive Order GA-48, which excludes entities associated with foreign adversaries or listed under federal NDAA provisions; compliance with Texas Chapter 2271 prohibitions on boycotting Israel and doing business with certain countries; verification against discrimination toward firearm entities; and certifications regarding Franchise Tax status, child support obligations, and workers’ compensation coverage. The selected firm must also submit a monthly progress assessment report tied to payment, maintain records under generally accepted accounting principles, and allow on-site audits of operations and resources. The project timeline anticipates proposal issuance in August 2026, negotiations in September, award in late September, and service commencement in October 2026. The owner representative is Matt