What contracts can a purchaser use if an item is not found on WorkQuest or TCI?

The appropriate choice for contracts a purchaser can use when an item is not found on WorkQuest or TCI is indeed SPD term, managed, or TXMAS contracts. These contracts are established by the Texas General Services Commission and are designed to provide a range of goods and services to state and local government entities.

SPD term contracts are typically for specific products or services over a set term, while managed contracts often involve the oversight of procurement processes, ensuring compliance and efficiency. TXMAS contracts are cooperative purchasing agreements that allow for the use of state contracts at the local government level. Utilizing these contracts is beneficial because they are competitively bid, allowing purchasers to leverage pre-negotiated terms with suppliers, ensuring both compliance with state laws and potentially more favorable pricing.

In contrast, local vendor agreements may vary in their terms and not be standardized across the state, while state surplus inventory principally pertains to goods no longer needed by state agencies and may not always fulfill specific procurement requirements. Online marketplace options, although potentially useful in certain contexts, may not always align with the structured procurement policies required for purchases by state entities. Therefore, relying on the standardized rules provided under SPD term, managed, or TXMAS contracts is a more reliable and compliant approach for public procurement when alternatives aren't