A system for retaining a flowable and curable building material to form a portion of a foundation includes side walls disposed in a predetermined configuration having a first side wall and a second side wall, and at least one component having an interior cavity disposed in one of the side walls. A bracket assembly includes at least one inwardly bounding reinforcement post and at least one outwardly bounding reinforcement post, a separator bar having a plurality of apertures sized to receive and retain each of the reinforcement posts at locations corresponding to nominal widths of the at least one component. A barrier is disposed between the outwardly bounding and inwardly bounding posts. The component in the side wall is retained in the foundation after the building material cures. The barrier prevents backfill from filling a volume between the outwardly bounding and inwardly bounding posts.