SECTION 81.115. Requirement for Competitive Bids for Services or Products

(a) This section does not apply to expenditures of $2,000 or less. (Note: A large purchase may not be divided into small lot purchases to circumvent the dollar limits established by this section. For example, expenditures for computer equipment to a single vendor that total more than $2,000 are subject to the competitive bid requirement and may not be split between printers/scanner/computers.)

(b) The county chair must purchase all services and products using competitive bids from no less than three sources. Proper documentation must be submitted with the final cost report to indicate the type of procurement service used and the source for those services.

(c) The county chair must document or otherwise provide an explanation regarding the lack of available bids from vendors (sole source). This documentation or explanation must be submitted with the final primary election cost report.

(d) If the county chair contracts with the county election officer who has a term contract for election supplies or services or utilizes the Texas Cooperative Purchasing Program, then competitive bids are not required.

Source Note: The provisions of this §81.115 adopted to be effective December 13, 2009, 34 TexReg 8665; amended to be effective March 7, 2012, 37 TexReg 1483; amended to be effective January 9, 2014, 39 TexReg 209