Amend CSHB 300 by adding the following appropriately numbered 
SECTION to ARTICLE I of the bill and renumbering subsequent 
SECTIONS of the article accordingly:
	SECTION 1.____.  (a)  Section 2254.004(a), Government Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  In procuring architectural, engineering, or land 
surveying services, a governmental entity, other than the Texas 
Department of Transportation using the alternative procedure under 
Section 2254.0045, shall:
		(1)  first select the most highly qualified provider of 
those services on the basis of demonstrated competence and 
qualifications; and
		(2)  then attempt to negotiate with that provider a 
contract at a fair and reasonable price.
	(b)  Subchapter A, Chapter 2254, Government Code, is amended 
by adding Section 2254.0045 to read as follows:
	Sec. 2254.0045.  ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE FOR PROCURING 
ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING, AND LAND SURVEYING SERVICES BY TEXAS 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.  (a)  In this section, "department" 
means the Texas Department of Transportation.
	(b)  As an alternative to the procurement method prescribed 
by Section 2254.004, the department may procure architectural, 
engineering, or land surveying services using the procedure 
provided by this section.
	(c)  The department shall prepare and issue a request for 
qualifications.
	(d)  The department shall evaluate statements of 
qualifications and rank a reasonable number of the most highly 
qualified providers of architectural, engineering, or land 
surveying services on the basis of demonstrated competence, 
qualifications, and estimated delivery date.
	(e)  The department shall solicit competitive proposals from 
the providers selected under Subsection (d).  The department shall 
include with the solicitation the information necessary for the 
solicited providers to submit a responsive competitive proposal.
	(f)  The department shall select the provider that submits 
the competitive proposal offering the best value for the department 
on the basis of price, demonstrated competence, qualifications, and 
estimated delivery date.
	(g)  The department shall first attempt to negotiate a 
contract with the provider selected under Subsection (f).  If the 
department is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the 
selected provider or if the selected provider is released from the 
contract during the first three months of the contract, the 
department shall proceed to negotiate a contract with the next 
provider in the order of the ranking established by the department 
under Subsection (f) if that provider agrees to the terms of its 
original proposal.
	(h)  A rule of a professional licensing board prohibiting an 
architect, engineer, or land surveyor from submitting a competitive 
bid or proposal does not apply to a competitive proposal submitted 
under this section.
	(c)  Section 2254.0045, Government Code, as added by this 
section applies only to a contract for which requests for proposals 
or requests for qualifications are published or distributed on or 
after the effective date of this Act.