(a) To procure goods or services, a state agency may use the following procurement methods as further prescribed by this subchapter:
  (1) competitive sealed bidding;
  (2) competitive sealed proposals;
  (3) proprietary purchases;
  (4) emergency procurements;
  (5) small purchases;
  (6) requests for offers; or
  (7) purchases by means of special contracting methods as otherwise specified in this subchapter.
(b) In addition to the methods described in subsection (a) of this section, a state agency may use any other method of procurement authorized by statute.
(c) Whenever possible, purchases are based on competitive bids.
(d) Negotiation of contracts, including price, is permitted for:
  (1) purchases by means of competitive sealed proposals;
  (2) proprietary purchases or purchases of items for which there is only one source of supply;
  (3) emergency purchases when there is insufficient time to solicit bids;
  (4) purchases by means of requests for offers; and
  (5) proposed purchases in circumstances where the competitive solicitation has been advertised but the state agency has received only one acceptable bid, or no acceptable bids; provided, however, such negotiation may not result in a material change to the advertised specifications.

Source Note: The provisions of this §20.206 adopted to be effective January 24, 2017, 42 TexReg 233