82R199 MTB-F
 
  By: Parker H.B. No. 198
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of private procurement specialists for certain
  state agency contracts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2262.002(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Section 2262.152, this [This]
  chapter does not apply to contracts of the Texas Department of
  Transportation that:
               (1)  relate to highway construction or highway
  engineering; or
               (2)  are subject to Section 201.112, Transportation
  Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2262.101, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2262.101.  CREATION; DUTIES. The Contract Advisory
  Team is created to assist state agencies in improving contract
  management practices by:
               (1)  [reviewing the solicitation of major contracts by
  state agencies;
               [(2)]  reviewing any findings or recommendations made
  by the state auditor, including those made under Section
  2262.052(b), regarding a state agency's compliance with the
  contract management guide; and
               (2) [(3)]  providing recommendations to the commission
  regarding:
                     (A)  the development of the contract management
  guide; and
                     (B)  the training under Section 2262.053.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 2262, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. PRIVATE PROCUREMENT SPECIALISTS
         Sec. 2262.151.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "High-cost contract" means a state agency contract
  that has a value of at least $10 million.
               (2)  "Major information resources project" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 2054.003.
               (3)  "Solicitation" means a solicitation for bids,
  offers, qualifications, proposals, or similar expressions of
  interest for a high-cost contract.
         Sec. 2262.152.  APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN CONTRACTS. (a)
  This subchapter applies to a Texas Department of Transportation
  contract only if the contract:
               (1)  is a high-cost contract; and
               (2)  is for a major information resources project.
         (b)  This subchapter does not apply to a contract for
  professional or consulting services under Chapter 2254.
         Sec. 2262.153.  PRIVATE PROCUREMENT SPECIALISTS. (a) A
  state agency shall, when appropriate, select a private procurement
  specialist as provided by this subchapter.
         (b)  A private procurement specialist must be a person from
  the private sector who is:
               (1)  an expert in the subject matter of the contract for
  which the private procurement specialist is selected; and
               (2)  proficient in the procurement laws applicable to
  the contract for which the private procurement specialist is
  selected.
         (c)  A private procurement specialist shall:
               (1)  review and approve actions under Section
  2262.154(d); and
               (2)  throughout the contract formation and contract
  management process, provide recommendations and assistance to the
  state agency regarding the contract for which the private
  procurement specialist is selected.
         (d)  Before the comptroller or, if applicable, the
  Department of Information Resources approves the use of a private
  procurement specialist under Section 2262.154, the comptroller or,
  if applicable, the Department of Information Resources and the
  state agency seeking to enter into the contract shall consider:
               (1)  potential private procurement specialists'
  relative experience and knowledge on the subject matter of the
  contract; and
               (2)  probable fees or costs associated with securing
  the services of a private procurement specialist.
         (e)  A private procurement specialist may not bid on or
  otherwise make a proposal to receive a contract for which the
  specialist was selected.
         Sec. 2262.154.  USE OF PRIVATE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST. (a)
  With the approval of the comptroller or, if applicable, the
  Department of Information Resources, a state agency shall use a
  private procurement specialist for a high-cost contract if the
  agency determines that given the cost and nature of the proposed
  contract there will probably be a net savings to the state over the
  life of the contract if a specialist is selected.
         (b)  The approval of the Department of Information Resources
  is required, rather than the comptroller's approval, in order to
  use a private procurement specialist under Subsection (a) for a
  high-cost contract that is for a major information resources
  project.
         (c)  A state agency seeking to enter into a high-cost
  contract must send to the comptroller or, if applicable, to the
  Department of Information Resources the information necessary to
  approve the use of a private procurement specialist under this
  section. At a minimum, the information must include the state
  agency's draft solicitation for the contract.
         (d)  During the contract formation and contract management
  process with respect to a high-cost contract for which a private
  procurement specialist is approved, a state agency shall
  collaborate with and, except as provided by Subsection (f), obtain
  the approval of the private procurement specialist before taking
  any of the following actions in relation to the contract:
               (1)  publicly releasing solicitation documents;
               (2)  executing a final contract; and
               (3)  making a payment or a series of payments that equal
  half of the contract value.
         (e)  In determining whether to approve an action described by
  Subsection (d), the selected private procurement specialist shall
  review related documentation to ensure that potential risks related
  to the high-cost contract have been identified and mitigated.
         (f)  If a state agency disagrees with a determination of a
  private procurement specialist regarding an action described by
  Subsection (d), the agency may take the action without the approval
  of the specialist if the administrative head of the agency and the
  comptroller or, if applicable, the Department of Information
  Resources approve the action.
         Sec. 2262.155.  SOLICITATION AND CONTRACT CANCELLATION. (a)
  After review of and comment on the matter by the Legislative Budget
  Board and the governor, the selected private procurement specialist
  may recommend the cancellation of a solicitation or a contract
  under Section 2262.154(d) if:
               (1)  a proposed solicitation is not in the best
  interest of the state;
               (2)  a proposed contract would place the state at an
  unacceptable risk if executed; or
               (3)  with regard to an executed contract, an agency is
  experiencing performance failure or payment irregularities.
         (b)  Each high-cost contract is subject to cancellation in
  accordance with this section and Section 2262.154(d).
         (c)  A state agency shall include in each of its high-cost
  contracts a term that provides that the state agency may
  immediately terminate the contract without further obligation to
  the contractor if there is performance failure or there are payment
  irregularities with regard to the contract.
         Sec. 2262.156.  PAYMENT OF PRIVATE PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST
  SERVICES. (a) The state agency seeking to enter into a contract
  for which a private procurement specialist is selected shall enter
  into an agreement with the specialist to compensate the specialist
  using either:
               (1)  a flat fee agreement; or
               (2)  a pay-for-performance agreement described by
  Subsection (b).
         (b)  If a pay-for-performance agreement is used, the state
  agency shall develop a projected budget for the contract based on
  the agency's expected cost of entering into and managing the
  contract if the agency were to enter into and manage the contract
  using ordinary procurement procedures but without using the
  services of a private procurement specialist. The
  pay-for-performance agreement must provide that the private
  procurement specialist will be paid a percentage of the savings
  realized by the agency as a result of using the private procurement
  specialist, compared with the agency's projected budget for the
  contract.
         Sec. 2262.157.  REPORT. Not later than January 1 of each
  year, each state agency that has used the services of a private
  procurement specialist during the preceding year shall report to
  the comptroller the savings realized by the agency as a result of
  using the private procurement specialist's services. A state
  agency shall base the determination of savings realized on the
  agency's projected costs or budget for the contract compared to the
  actual costs for the contract.
         Sec. 2262.158.  RULES; WAIVER. The comptroller and the
  Department of Information Resources shall adopt rules to implement
  and administer this subchapter, including rules for waiving
  approval of the use of a private procurement specialist under
  Section 2262.154.
         SECTION 4.  Section 2262.051(f), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter D, Chapter 2262, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to a contract for which the
  solicitation of bids, offers, qualifications, proposals, or
  similar expressions of interest is published on or after September
  1, 2011.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.