Sec. 223.042. PRIVATIZATION OF MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS

(a) Of the amount spent in a fiscal year by the department for maintenance projects, the department shall spend not less than 50 percent through contracts awarded by competitive bids.

(b) Money spent for maintenance projects to which this section does not apply is included when computing the amount of expenditures for maintenance projects in a fiscal year.

(c) The department may award a contract under this section as a purchase of service under Subtitle D, Title 10, Government Code, if the department:

(1) estimates that the contract will involve an amount for which a formal solicitation process for the purchase of services is not required under rules relating to the delegation of purchasing authority to state agencies adopted by the comptroller under Subchapter C, Chapter 2155, Government Code; and

(2) determines that the competitive bidding procedure in this chapter is not practical.

(d) The department shall consider all of its direct and indirect costs in determining the cost of providing the services. The department shall use the cost accounting procedures and instructions developed by the State Council on Competitive Government under Section 2162.102(c)(2), Government Code, in determining its cost. On request, the State Council on Competitive Government shall provide technical assistance to the department about the cost accounting procedures and instructions.

(e) Subsection (a) does not apply unless the department determines that a function of comparable quality and quantity can be purchased or performed at a savings by using private sector contracts.

(f) The department shall file a report with the Legislative Budget Board on September 1 of each fiscal year detailing the contracts awarded by the department under this section during the previous fiscal year.

(g) The commission shall adopt rules to administer this section.

(h) In this section, "maintenance project" means any routine or preventive maintenance activity. The term includes mowing, concrete removal and replacement, illumination maintenance, guardrail repair, fence repair, litter pick-up, herbicide spraying, pothole repair, silt and erosion control or repair, sign installation, highway overlaying, paint and bead striping, rest area maintenance, and installation of raised pavement markings.

(i) This section does not apply to the purchase of materials for maintenance projects.

(j) As an alternative to the requirements of Sections 2253.021(b) and (c), Government Code, the department may require that a performance or payment bond under a contract awarded under this section for a maintenance project:

(1) be in an amount equal to the greatest annual amount to be paid the contractor under the contract and remain in effect for one year from the day work is resumed after any default by the contractor; or

(2) be in an amount equal to the amount to be paid the contractor during the term of the bond and be for a term of two years, renewable annually in two-year increments.

(k) A claim against a performance or payment bond issued under this section must be filed against the bond in effect on the date the basis for the claim arose.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 17.19, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 28, Sec. 1, eff. May 12, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 274, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2003. Reenacted and amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 638 , Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005; Acts 2005 79th Leg., Ch 728, Sec. 20.002, eff. September 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 849 , Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.