The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) Chief administrative officer--The commissioner, executive director, president or other executive officer responsible for the day to day operations of a unit of state government, or that person's designee. (2) Commission--The Finance Commission of Texas. (3) Contract Protest Officer--The person or persons assigned by a Finance Unit to resolve disputes over the solicitation, evaluation, or award of a contract. (4) Contractor--Independent contractor who has entered into a contract directly with a Finance Unit of state government. The term does not include: (A) A contractor's subcontractor, officer, employee, agent, or other person furnishing goods or services to a contractor; (B) An employee of a Finance Unit of state government; or (C) A student at an institution of higher education. (5) Day--A calendar day. If an act is required to occur on a day falling on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the first working day which is not one of these days should be counted as the required day for purpose of this chapter. (6) Finance Agency--The Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, or the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. (7) Finance Unit of state government or Finance Unit--The Commission or any of the Finance Agencies. (8) Interested parties--All vendors who have submitted bids, proposals or other expressions of interest for the provision of goods or services pursuant to a contract with a Finance Unit of state government. (9) Parties--The contractor and Finance Unit of state government that have entered into a contract in connection with which a claim of breach of contract has been filed under this subchapter. (10) Unit of state government--The state or an agency, department, commission, bureau, board, office, council, court, or other entity that is in any branch of state government and that is created by the constitution or a statute of this state, including a university system or institution of higher education. The term does not include a county, municipality, court of a county or municipality, special purpose district, or other political subdivision of this state. |
