Sec. 56.108.  SELECTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY ACCESS SERVICE CARRIER.  (a)  The commission shall select one telecommunications carrier to provide the statewide telecommunications relay access service.
(b)  The commission shall make a written award of the contract to the telecommunications carrier whose proposal is the most advantageous to this state, considering:
(1)  price;
(2)  the interests of the community of persons with an impairment of hearing or speech in having access to a high quality and technologically advanced telecommunications system;  and
(3)  any other factor listed in the commission's request for proposals.
(c)  The commission shall consider each proposal in a manner that does not disclose the contents of the proposal to a telecommunications carrier making a competing proposal.
(d)  The commission's evaluation of a telecommunications carrier's proposal shall include the:
(1)  charges for the service;
(2)  service enhancements proposed by the carrier;
(3)  technological sophistication of the network proposed by the carrier;  and
(4)  date proposed for beginning the service.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.