Texas Administrative Code
Title 7 - BANKING AND SECURITIES
Part 1 - FINANCE COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Chapter 10 - CONTRACT PROCEDURES
Subchapter B - CONTRACT PROTESTS
Section 10.30 - Protests
Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Any actual or prospective bidder, offeror, or contractor who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation, evaluation, or award of a contract by any Finance Unit of state government may formally protest to the Finance Unit. Such protests must be made in writing and received by the Chief Administrative Officer of the Finance Unit within 10 working days after the protesting party knows, or should have known, of the occurrence of the action that is protested. Formal protests must conform to the requirements of this section. The protesting party must mail or deliver copies of the protest to all other interested parties.
(b) In the event of a timely protest under this section, the Finance Unit of state government shall not proceed further with the solicitation or award of the contract unless the Chief Administrative Officer of such Finance Unit makes a written determination that the contract must be awarded without delay, to protect the best interests of the state.
(c) A formal protest must be sworn and contain:
(d) The Contract Protest Officer of the Finance Unit of state government may settle and resolve the dispute over the solicitation or award of a contract at any time before the matter is submitted on appeal to the Chief Administrative Officer of the Finance Unit. The Contract Protest Officer of the Finance Unit of state government may solicit written responses to the protest from other interested parties.
(e) If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the Contract Protest Officer of the Finance Unit of state government shall issue a written determination that resolves the protest.
(f) The protesting party may appeal a determination of a protest by the Contract Protest Officer of the Finance Unit of state government to the Chief Administrative Officer of the Finance Unit. An appeal of the Contract Protest Officer's determination must be in writing and received in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer of the Finance Unit by not later than 10 working days after the date on which written notice of determination was sent. The scope of the appeal shall be limited to review of the Contract Protest Officer's determination. The protesting party must mail or deliver to all other interested parties a copy of the appeal, which must contain a certified statement that such copies have been provided.
(g) A written decision that the Chief Administrative Officer has issued shall be the final administrative action of the Finance Unit of state government.
(h) The Finance Unit of state government shall maintain all documentation on the purchasing process that is the subject of a protest or appeal in accordance with the retention schedule of the Finance Unit.