(a) Procurement method. The local authority must develop and enforce procurement procedures that comply with this subchapter.
  (1) Goods and non-community services. The local authority must acquire goods and non-community services by any procurement method described in the Uniform Grant and Contracts Management Standards (UGMS), Section __.36(d), that provides the best value to the local authority.
  (2) Community services. The local authority must acquire community services by a procurement method described in this subchapter that provides the best value to the local authority. All community services must be procured competitively in accordance with §412.58 of this title (relating to Competitive Procurement of Community Services Contracts) unless the local authority determines that the community service(s):
    (A) can be procured non-competitively in accordance with §412.59 of this title (relating to Non-competitive Procurement of Community Services Contracts); or
    (B) should be procured through open enrollment in accordance with §412.60 of this title (relating to Open Enrollment).
(b) Relevant factors. The local authority must consider all relevant factors in determining best value, which may include:
  (1) any installation cost;
  (2) the delivery terms;
  (3) the quality and reliability of the respondent's goods or services;
  (4) the extent to which the goods or services meet the local authority's needs;
  (5) indicators of probable respondent performance under the contract, such as past offeror performance, the respondent's financial resources and ability to perform, the respondent's experience and responsibility, and the respondent's ability to provide reliable maintenance agreements;
  (6) the impact on the ability of the local authority to comply with laws and rules relating to historically underutilized businesses or relating to the procurement of goods and services from persons with disabilities;
  (7) the total long term cost to the local authority of acquiring the respondent's goods or services;
  (8) the cost of any employee training associated with the acquisition;
  (9) the effect of an acquisition on the local authority's productivity;
  (10) the acquisition price;
  (11) whether the respondent can perform the contract or provide the service(s) within the contract term, without delay or interference;
  (12) the respondent's history of compliance with the laws relating to its business operations and the affected service(s) and whether it is currently in compliance;
  (13) whether the respondent's financial resources are sufficient to perform the contract and to provide the service(s);
  (14) whether necessary or desirable support and ancillary services are available to the respondent;
  (15) the character, responsibility, integrity, reputation, and experience of the respondent;
  (16) the quality of the facilities and equipment available to or proposed by the respondent;
  (17) the ability of the respondent to provide continuity of services;
  (18) the ability of the respondent to meet all applicable written policies, principles, and regulations; and
  (19) any other factor relevant to determining the best value for the local authority in the context of a particular acquisition.
(c) Award. All contracts must be awarded based on best value, as determined by considering all relevant factors.
(d) Renewal of community services contracts. The local authority may renew a community services contract only if the contract meets best value as determined by considering all relevant factors.

Source Note: The provisions of this §2.55 adopted to be effective April 22, 2001, 26 TexReg 2845; transferred effective September 1, 2004, as published in the Texas Register September 10, 2004, 29 TexReg 8841