Doing Business with TAHC
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has committed to demonstrate an ongoing good faith effort designed to eliminate the barriers which have traditionally prohibited growth of disadvantaged businesses, and to ensure historically underutilized businesses are offered meaningful opportunities to participate in TAHC's procurement process.
The mission of the Purchasing Department is to facilitate best practices and to achieve savings opportunities when procuring goods and services necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the agency. Purchasing ensures those goods and services represent best value, quality service, timely delivery, and are expended within the regulations and guidelines mandated by the State of Texas.
It is the responsibility of the Purchasing Department to maintain and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and internal control procedures, to conduct business with the highest level of customer service, ethical standards, fairness, and transparency, while welcoming qualified, responsible, and diverse vendors.
In accordance with state law, the TAHC seeks competition before awarding contracts exceeding $5,000. In addition, state law provides that state agencies may enter into certain contracts under programs where the competitive bid process takes place at the state level, rather than the agency level, to promote efficiency in contracting and to take advantage of the state's purchasing power. These programs include the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA or Comptroller) Term Contracts, the Non-Automated Contracts, Texas Multiple Awards Schedule (TXMAS), and Department of Information Resources (DIR) contracts.
Current Bid Opportunities
The Texas Animal Health Commission post all bid opportunities with an estimated value of $25,000 or more on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD). Vendors may view current bid opportunities published and awards to previous bids by accessing the ESBD website.
For a list of current bid opportunities with TAHC, search by agency number 554 on the Comptroller's ESBD website.
Reports of Contracts and Purchase Orders
- Contracts with Vendors Exceeding $100,000 pursuant to Texas Government Code 2054.126(2)(d)(4)
- Non-Competitive Procurements pursuant to Texas Government Code 2261.253(1) and (2)
- Contracts Posted to the TAHC Website pursuant to Texas Government Code 2261.253(3)
Terms and Conditions
TAHC Contract Terms and Conditions
Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL)
The CMBL is a master database used by State of Texas purchasing entities to develop a mailing list for vendors to receive bids based on the products or services they can provide to the State of Texas. Manufacturers, suppliers, and other vendors wishing to furnish materials, equipment, supplies, and services to the state should register for the CMBL to receive bidding opportunities. The CMBL annual registration fee is $70.00 and may be paid on-line by credit/debit card or check debit (US addresses only) or via a printable application.
For more information about applying for CMBL, please visit the Comptroller's CMBL website.
Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
In 1991, Texas instituted the historically underutilized business program (HUB) to increase the opportunities available to businesses owned by minorities and women in the area of state procurement and contracting. In accordance with Title 34, Section §20.281 of the Texas Administrative Code, each state agency shall make a good faith effort to utilize HUBs in contracts for construction, services (including professional and consulting services) and commodity purchases.
HUB certification is free of charge and good for up to four years. Only certified HUBs are listed in the online Texas HUB Directory. For purchases of $5,000.00 or less, state entities can directly contact a business to purchase goods and services. The Texas HUB Directory is also searched by vendors looking for certified HUBs to include in their subcontracting plans for projects of $100,000.00 or more. If opportunities are found, bidding vendors must submit a subcontracting plan showing potential use of certified HUBs. Vendors are encouraged to become familiar with the subcontracting process. Once certified, your company will be listed in the online Texas HUB Directory. This listing will make your business known as a potential subcontracting partner.
HUB Resources
Invoicing
Payments will not be made until the products or services ordered have been received, evaluated, tested and accepted. Vendors must submit a completed invoicing indicating the appropriate purchase order number, to Financial Services at the following address:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Financial Services
P.O. Box 12966
Austin, Texas 78711-2966
Email: financial_services@tahc.texas.gov
(Note: there is an underscore *_* between "financial" and "services")
Delivery
Most deliveries of goods are made to our Staff Services Department, which is located at:Texas Animal Health Commission
2105 Kramer Lane
Austin, Texas 78758
Receiving hours are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (except State holidays). All packing slips and cartons must include the TAHC purchase order number. The vendor is responsible for making deliveries to the correct address as specified on the purchase order.
Contact Purchasing
If you have any questions regarding purchases or contracts, please contact the Procurement Department below;
Physical Address:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Procurement Department
2105 Kramer Lane
Austin, Texas 78758
Mailing Address:
Texas Animal Health Commission
Procurement Department
P.O. Box 12966
Austin, Texas 78711-2966
Phone: (512)719-0762
Fax: (512)719-0707
Email: purchasing@tahc.texas.gov
Vendor Protest Procedures
A. Any actual or prospective vendor, bidder, or contractor who is aggrieved in connection with the solicitation, evaluation, or award of a contract may formally protest to the Texas Animal Health Commission, Chief of Staff or designee. Such protest must be in writing and received by the Chief of Staff or designee within ten (10) working days after occurrence of the action being protested. Formal protests must conform to the requirements of section (a) and section (c) of this document, and shall be resolved in accordance with the procedure set forth in sections (d) and (e) of this document. Copies of the protest must be mailed or delivered by the protesting person to the Texas Animal Health Commission Chief of Staff and all other interested persons*.
B. In the event of a timely protest or appeal under this document, the agency shall not proceed further with the solicitation or with the award of the contract unless the Chief of Staff or designee issues a written determination that the award of a contract without delay is necessary to protect substantial interests of the agency and/or the state.
C. A formal (written) protest must be sworn and notarized and contain:
- A specific identification of the statutory or regulatory provision(s) the action complained of is alleged to have violated;
- A specific description of each act alleged to have violated the statutory or regulatory provision(s) identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
- A precise statement of the relevant facts;
- An identification of the issue or issues to be resolved;
- Argument and authorities in support of the protest; and
- A statement that copies of the protest have been mailed or delivered to each person identified in section (a) of this document including all other interested persons*.
D. The Chief of Staff or designee may settle and resolve the dispute concerning the solicitation or award of a contract by mutual agreement with the protesting person. The Chief of Staff or designee may solicit written responses to the protest from all other interested persons*.
E. If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the Chief of Staff s or designee will issue a written determination on the protest.
- If the Chief of Staff or designee determines that NO violation of rules or statutes has occurred, he or she will inform the protesting person and all other interested persons* by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination.
- If the Chief of Staff or designee determines that a violation of rules or statutes HAS occurred in a case where a contract has NOT yet been awarded, he or she will inform the protesting person and all other interested persons* by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination, and the appropriate remedial action.
- If the Chief of Staff or designee determines that a violation of rules or statutes HAS occurred in a case where a contract HAS been awarded, he or she will inform the protesting person and all other interested persons* by letter which sets forth the reasons for the determination, which may include ordering the contract void.
F. After the Chief of Staff or designee’s determination has been made, the aggrieved person or any interested persons* may request reconsideration of the Chief of Staff or designee’s determination be made by the Executive Director or his designee. Such request must be in writing and must be received by the Chief of Staff or designee and the Executive Director or his or her designee, no later than ten (10) working days after the date of the Chief of Staff or designee’s determination, which shall be calculated from the date the Chief of Staff or designee’s letter is hand-delivered, delivered by a nationally recognized courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail. The request shall be limited to review of the Chief of Staff or designee’s determination. Copies of the request must be mailed or delivered by the aggrieved person to all other interested persons*. The request must contain an affidavit that such copies have been provided.
G. The Executive Director or designee shall issue a final determination on the protest within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the aggrieved person’s request for reconsideration.
H. Unless good cause for delay is shown or the Chief of Staff or designee or Executive Director or designee determines that a protest or a request for reconsideration, raises issues significant to procurement practices or procedures, a protest or appeal that is not filed timely will not be considered.
I. A decision issued in response to a request for reconsideration, either by the commission, or in writing by the Executive Director, shall be the final administrative action of the commission.
J. In the event of a protest, all documents collected by the commission as a part of a solicitation, evaluation, and/or award of a contract shall be retained by the commission for a period of seven (7) years to include the current fiscal year and six (6) additional fiscal years.
*For the purpose of this procedure, "interested persons" means all vendors who have submitted bids or proposals for the contract involved. In the event of a protest or request for reconsideration, the agency will provide a list of "interested persons" upon request.
