Sec. 302.005.  BIDDING PROCEDURES;  AWARD OF CONTRACT.  (a)  An energy savings performance contract under this chapter may be let in accordance with the procedures established for procuring certain professional services by Section 2254.004, Government Code.  Notice of the request for qualifications shall be published in the manner provided for competitive bidding.
(b)  Before entering into an energy savings performance contract, the governing body must require that the energy savings, increase in billable revenues, or increase in meter accuracy estimated or projected by a provider be reviewed by a licensed professional engineer who:
(1)  has a minimum of three years of experience in energy calculation and review;
(2)  is not an officer or employee of a provider for the contract under review; and
(3)  is not otherwise associated with the contract.
(c)  In conducting the review, the engineer shall focus primarily on the proposed improvements from an engineering perspective, the methodology and calculations related to cost savings, increases in revenue, and, if applicable, efficiency or accuracy of metering equipment.  An engineer who reviews a contract shall maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary information the engineer acquires while reviewing the contract.  Sections 1001.053 and 1001.407, Occupations Code, apply to work performed under the contract.
(d)  The scope of an energy savings performance contract may not be modified under this section by change order, contract addendum, or other method:
(1)  to perform work that is not related to, connected with, or otherwise ancillary to the measures identified in the original scope of an energy savings performance contract; or
(2)  in a way that increases the price of the original awarded contract by more than 25 percent of the original contract value.
(e)  Subsection (d) applies only to the design or construction of a water supply project, water plant, wastewater plant, water and wastewater distribution or conveyance facility, or drainage project.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 635, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 573, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1319, Sec. 7;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 12.005, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1310, Sec. 82, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 527 (S.B. 831), Sec. 8, eff. June 16, 2007.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 495 (H.B. 3583), Sec. 2, eff. June 14, 2021.