Sec. 51.004. CONTRACT BIDS

(a) To be eligible for a contract under Section 51.003(a), a family violence shelter center must:

(1) provide temporary lodging and direct delivery of services for adults and their dependents;

(2) have been in actual operation offering shelter services 24 hours a day with a capacity for not less than five persons for at least one year before the date on which the contract is awarded;

(3) demonstrate that the center, through the services it provides, is addressing a need in the community consistent with the plan for family violence services under Section 51.0021; and

(4) submit a contract application on forms prescribed by the department.

(b) To be eligible for a contract under Section 51.003(a), a family violence nonresidential center must:

(1) provide, as its primary purpose, direct delivery of services to adult victims of family violence;

(2) demonstrate a system of referring victims of family violence to at least one family violence shelter center or other safe temporary lodging;

(3) have been operating and providing comprehensive services, including the services described by Section 51.005(b)(3), to victims of family violence for at least one year before the date on which the contract is awarded;

(4) demonstrate that the center, through the services it provides, is addressing a need in the community consistent with the plan for family violence services under Section 51.0021; and

(5) submit a contract application on forms prescribed by the department.

(c) The department shall consider the following factors in awarding contracts under Section 51.003(a):

(1) the family violence center's eligibility for and use of funds from the federal government, philanthropic organizations, and voluntary sources;

(2) community support for the family violence center, as evidenced by financial contributions from civic organizations, local governments, and individuals;

(3) evidence that the family violence center provides services that encourage self-sufficiency and effectively uses community resources;

(4) evidence of involvement with local law enforcement officials; and

(5) support for the family violence center through volunteer work, especially volunteer effort by persons who have been victims of family violence.

(d) To be eligible for a contract under Section 51.003(b), a family violence special project must:

(1) provide:

(A) community education relating to family violence; or

(B) direct delivery of services for adult victims of family violence or their children;

(2) demonstrate a system of referring victims of family violence to at least one family violence shelter center or other safe temporary lodging;

(3) demonstrate that the project, through the services it provides, is addressing a need in the community consistent with the plan for family violence services under Section 51.0021;

(4) demonstrate that the underserved or special population to be served by the project is involved in the project's design and implementation, if applicable; and

(5) submit a contract application on forms prescribed by the department.

(e) The department shall use a noncompetitive procurement procedure if the department determines that there is no competition between eligible family violence centers for a service area. If the department determines that there is competition between eligible family violence centers for a service area, the department shall award a contract through a competitive procurement procedure.

Added by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 3313, ch. 867, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 636, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 6, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.