When purchases exceed the routine-purchase limit, notice must be published and the notice must contain specified bid details.
Sec. 60.404. COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS. (a) If the materials, supplies, machinery, equipment, or other items to be purchased or contracted for are valued at an amount greater than the amount authorized under Section 60.403(a) for routine purchases or contracts, notice shall be published as provided by this section. (b) A notice of proposed purchase and the time and place the bids will be received and opened must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks before the deadline for receiving the bids in a newspaper with general circulation in each county in which the district is located. If there is no newspaper of general circulation in a county in which the district is located, the notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county nearest the county seat of the county in which the district is located or the county in which the greatest amount of the district's territory is located. (c) The notice must include: (1) the specifications as prescribed by Subsection (d) of this section or the location at which those specifications may be obtained; (2) the time and place for receiving and opening bids; (3) the name and position of the official or employee to whom the bids are to be sent; (4) whether the purchase will be made on a lump-sum or unit-pricing basis or a combination of a lump-sum basis and a unit-pricing basis; (5) if a unit-pricing basis is to be used, the information required by Section 60.409(b) of this code; and (6) the type of bonds required of the bidder. (d) The specifications must: (1) describe in detail the item to be acquired; (2) require that bids be sealed; (3) require the attachment to the bid of a certified check, cashier's check, or bidders bond, if security is required in connection with the bid; and (4) indicate whether a small business development program, local preference program, or other contracting program adopted by the district applies to the purchase and, if so, where a copy of the program requirements may be obtained. (e) A certified check or cashier's check required under Subsection (d)(3) of this section must be drawn on a bank that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. A bidders bond required by that subsection must be acceptable to and payable to the district or port authority in an amount that is five percent of the total amount of the bid, conditioned that the successful bidder will enter into a contract and give bond if required by the specifications or law. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 353, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1059, Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 1989; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 757, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 632, Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 588, Sec. 9, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 415 (H.B. 1972), Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1191 (H.B. 3785), Sec. 4, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 26.008, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1027 (H.B. 2770), Sec. 14, eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 1395), Sec. 9, eff. June 1, 2017.