<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="10A-201" title_number="10A" title_name="Public-Private Partnerships" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Solicited Proposals">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a reporting agency may not issue a public notice of solicitation for a public–private partnership until a presolicitation report concerning the proposed public–private partnership is submitted to the Comptroller, the State Treasurer, the budget committees, and the Department of Legislative Services, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A reporting agency may not issue a public notice of solicitation for a public–private partnership for a transportation facilities project, as defined in § 4–101(h) of the Transportation Article, until a presolicitation report concerning the proposed public–private partnership is submitted to the budget committees and the Department of Legislative Services, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The budget committees may not have more than 45 days to review and comment on the presolicitation report submitted in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>If the total value of a proposed public–private partnership reported in the presolicitation report under paragraph (b)(1) of this subsection exceeds $500,000,000, the budget committees may request an additional 15 days to review and comment on the presolicitation report.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The request for additional time under this subparagraph shall:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>be made in writing to the Governor, the Department of Budget and Management, and the reporting agency; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>include the reason for the request and any preliminary issues the budget committees have.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A presolicitation report shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>state the specific policy, operational, and financial reasons for pursuing a public–private partnership;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>identify the anticipated value of the proposed public–private partnership, risks and benefits to the State, and any potential workforce, economic development, or environmental implications;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>evaluate, if relevant and to the extent necessary, the risks and benefits of a public–private partnership, including benefits such as expedited asset delivery, cost savings, risk transfer, net new revenue, state–of–the–art techniques for asset development or operations, efficiency of operations, maintenance via innovative management techniques, and expertise in accessing and organizing the widest range of financial resources;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>include, if relevant and to the extent possible, the following information prepared by the reporting agency, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a preliminary analysis on debt affordability;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a preliminary summary of the proposed solicitation process; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a statement of intention to use the exemption from the requirements of Division II of this article set forth in § 11–203 of this article;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>withhold information deemed confidential, proprietary, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law, in accordance with  § 4–335 of the General Provisions Article, relating to:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>confidential commercial information;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>confidential financial information; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>trade secrets; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>be posted online by the reporting agency during the review period in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The online location of the presolicitation report shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>on the website of the reporting agency; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>on the website of the specific project if one has been established.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The reporting agency shall include in the Maryland Register a brief synopsis of, and a link to, the presolicitation report.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>After the budget committees’ review and comment period on the presolicitation report and before issuing a public notice of solicitation, a reporting agency shall seek the official designation by the Board of Public Works of the public infrastructure asset as a public–private partnership and approval of the solicitation method.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The request for official designation and approval shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>include a copy of the presolicitation report required under subsection (a) of this section;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>describe the process for soliciting, evaluating, selecting, and awarding the public–private partnership;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>include a preliminary solicitation schedule;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>outline the organization and contents of the public notice of solicitation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>provide a summary of the key terms of the proposed public–private partnership agreement; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>include any other information or requests determined to be relevant by the reporting agency.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
