By: Armbrister S.B. No. 1318
99S0748/1
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the evaluation of proposals for contracts by
1-2 institutions of higher education for energy conservation measures.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subsection (h), Section 51.927, Education Code,
1-5 is amended to read as follows:
1-6 (h) A contract under this section may be let under
1-7 competitive sealed proposal procedures. Notice of the request for
1-8 proposals shall be given in the manner provided for in Chapter
1-9 2156, Government Code. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
1-10 Board, in consultation with the State Energy Conservation Office
1-11 and the Texas Energy Coordination Council with regard to energy
1-12 conservation measures, shall establish guidelines and an approval
1-13 process for contracts awarded under this section. [The State
1-14 Energy Conservation Office and the Texas Energy Coordination
1-15 Council shall review the selected proposal before a contract is
1-16 awarded. The State Energy Conservation Office may provide a
1-17 cost-benefit analysis of the proposals and analysis of the
1-18 guaranteed savings projected by offerors and may charge a fee for
1-19 this service.] The contract shall be awarded to the responsible
1-20 offeror whose proposal, following negotiations, is determined by
1-21 the institution to be the most advantageous to the institution
1-22 considering the guaranteed savings and other evaluation factors set
1-23 forth in the request for proposals, except that if the institution
1-24 finds that no offer is acceptable, it shall refuse all offers.
2-1 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-2 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.