(a) Low-risk solicitations. If a solicitation qualifies as low-risk according to this section, an agency may designate it as low-risk when submitting it for CAT review. CAT may review a solicitation that has been designated as low-risk using an expedited process that focuses on key terms, or request additional documentation to determine which level of review to perform.
(b) Template solicitations. An agency may request CAT review of a solicitation template, which must include all key terms for a contemplated contract. For one year after a template has been reviewed, the agency may designate a solicitation following that template without substantial revision as low-risk.
(c) Risk analysis procedure. An agency that has developed a risk analysis procedure as described in Government Code, §2261.256(a), may designate a solicitation as low-risk if it submits its analysis and conclusion that the contractor selection process, contract provisions, and payment and reimbursement rates for the types of goods and services to be solicited present a low risk of fraud, abuse, or waste.
(d) Reduced monitoring. An agency that is currently reported by the State Auditor's Office as requiring reduced monitoring during contract solicitation and development may designate a solicitation as low-risk without submitting an analysis to CAT.
(e) Additional monitoring. An agency that is currently reported by the State Auditor's Office as requiring additional monitoring during contract solicitation and development may not designate any solicitation as low-risk, even if the solicitation would otherwise qualify under this section.

Source Note: The provisions of this §20.163 adopted to be effective August 27, 2020, 45 TexReg 5927