RFI for TX Border Infrastructure Maintenance and Repair Services

SECTION I - INTRODUCTION 1)     Intent of RFI:  The Texas Facilities Commission is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information and input regarding maintenance and repair services for the Texas Border Infrastructure (TBI) program. a)     This document is intended to solicit responses from individuals, firms, teams, or organizations that have experience with maintenance and repair services for border wall infrastructure or similar projects. Specifically, maintenance and repair services experience in support of U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) border wall infrastructure projects on the Southwest border is preferred.    2)     Inquiry Only: This is an inquiry only. No contract or agreement will be entered into as a result of this process, nor does a response to this document initiate a formal procurement or represent a commitment to issue a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) or Request for Proposals (“RFP”) in the future. Those choosing to respond to this RFI will not, merely by virtue of submitting such a response, be deemed to be “bidders” on the Project in any sense, and no such Respondent will have any preference, special designation, advantage or disadvantage whatsoever in any subsequent activities related to the Project. The information contained in the responses to this RFI will help the TFC to advance evaluation and development efforts for the Project, which may result in the launch of a formal Project and associated procurement activities.      SECTION II - BACKGROUND 1)     General: a)     On June 1, 2021, the Governor of Texas issued a Disaster Declaration for multiple Texas counties near or along the U.S. southern border to provide additional resources and strategies to combat the influx of illegal immigrants as well as the rise in criminal activities, including criminal trespass. Since the Disaster Declaration, TFC has established a Texas Border Infrastructure (TBI) program that now has completed significant sections that now require maintenance and repair services.  b)     On behalf of the State of Texas, TFC is seeking input from interested respondents to determine the best approach to providing maintenance and repair services to TBI to include cost considerations for these services. c)      Over the next twelve months, it is expected that approximately 25 to 50 miles of border infrastructure will be completed which will require an on-going maintenance and repair program.  TFC is constructing border infrastructure compatible with the standards established by the USBP in their Tactical Infrastructure Design Standards.  A decision on which Texas Agency will execute maintenance and repair services for TBI is pending.  This RFI is intended to provide clarification on costs and the optimal alignment of these services within Texas agencies. d)     More background information on TBI is available at:  https://www.tfc.texas.gov/wall/   2)     Purpose: a)     The purpose of this RFI is to solicit information from various firms and contractors on: i)       Proposed approach to providing maintenance and repair service to TBI segments located in multiple counties along the Texas border with Mexico from Val Verde to Cameron Counties. The length of TBI requiring maintenance is estimated to be between 25 to 50 miles. ii)     Obtain feedback on optimal pricing structure and rough order of magnitude estimates to deliver maintenance and repair services as defined in this RFI. iii)  Request recommendations from respondents on how the State of Texas should approach a TBI maintenance and repair services contract. SECTION III – PROJECT INFORMATION 1)     Envisioned Scope of Work: maintenance and repair services for TBI will be provided by contractors.  Contractors shall provide expert technical solutions and services to maintain: (a) roads and bridges, (b) fencing, bollard wall, and gates, (c) vegetation control and debris removal, (d) border lighting and electrical, (e) clearing and repairing drainage and grate systems. 2)     Scheduled Work: Scheduled work includes requirements that are not defined or categorized as unscheduled or urgent. Scheduled requirements can be planned in advance and performed at a designated frequency. Texas expects that the level of scheduled work will be determined by an appropriation level and this work will be planned on a semi-annual to annual basis in accordance with a prioritized list of requirements.     3)     Unscheduled or Urgent. Unscheduled or Urgent work activities result from willful destruction, a natural event such as severe weather, or premature failure of a TBI asset, and is further defined as a requirement that if unresolved immediately may interrupt or otherwise adversely impact security operations.  Examples of urgent work requirements include bollard wall breaches, gate failures and blocked drainage structures. Other examples of urgent work include repairs following a severe weather event, border and access road washouts, electrical outages, and falling trees blocking roads due to severe winds.