Posting Language
Title
Ratify a contract for construction services for the Shoal Creek Bridge Emergency Repairs Project for Austin Energy with Primoris Energy Services Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $1,581,647. Funding: $1,000,000 was available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. $581,647 was available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Energy.
Body
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Managing Department
Austin Energy.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $1,000,000 was available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy
Funding in the amount of $581,647 was available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of the Austin Energy.
Procurement Language:
Ratification.
MBE / WBE:
This contract is exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services
- Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
The requested action is for Council to ratify the emergency construction contract with Primoris Energy Services Corporation, which has been procured under the authority of Section 252.022(a)(2) and (3) of the Texas Local Government Code as a procurement necessary to protect and preserve public health and safety, and as a procurement necessary because of unforeseen damage to public machinery, equipment, or other property.
Austin Energy’s chilled water infrastructure located beneath the Shoal Creek Bridge at West 5th Street sustained significant fire damage on March 28, 2026, that compromised the conduit system and insulation protecting the 24-inch chilled water transmission line. The damaged infrastructure presented an immediate risk to the reliability of the District Cooling System and required emergency repairs to prevent further deterioration and damage as well as potential service disruption. The emergency work restored the damaged conduit and insulation systems, allowing the chilled water infrastructure to safely return to service.
The emergency repairs included removal of fire-damaged insulation and cladding, installation of approximately 448 linear feet of 4-inch PVC-coated rigid conduit, replacement of the insulation system on the 24-inch chilled water piping with new phenolic foam insulation, high-density polyethylene outer shell, and aluminum cladding, restoration of insulation in the remaining bridge sections, installation of scaffolding and containment systems and halted further damages, traffic control, emergency permitting, and other associated construction activities necessary to safely restore the infrastructure. The work was completed in June 2026.
This project is located within zip code 78701 (District 9). The location contains critical Austin Energy chilled water infrastructure serving the downtown District Cooling System, making timely emergency repairs necessary to protect public infrastructure and maintain reliable utility service.