<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" citation="COMAR 04.01.05.06" title_num="04" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="05" heading="Screening Process.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The purpose of the screening is to assist the Department in determining the appropriateness, viability, and effectiveness of delivering a public infrastructure asset for which it is responsible using a Public-Private Partnership methodology.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The screening methodology is a means to systematically apply uniform and consistent factors to both internally generated Public-Private Partnership concepts and unsolicited public-private concepts.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The screening process shall be organized in two phases:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>High-Level Screening Phase.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Factors to be considered during the high-level screening may include, but are not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Ability to meet State infrastructure, socioeconomic development, workforce, and environmental goals;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Technical implementation considerations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Potential need for coordination with other State agencies;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Ability to allocate and share risks in a cost effective manner that shall be consistent with State law and in the best interests of the State;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Opportunities to reduce reliance on public funds or finance, or both;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Public affordability considerations;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Potential for increased revenue generation and revenue sharing with the Department; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Potential impact on the workforce, including existing State employees, if any.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For internally generated Public-Private Partnership concepts, the high level screening shall be conducted based on the Public-Private Candidate Concept Application and supporting information provided by the Internal Sponsor.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For unsolicited Public-Private concepts, the high-level screening shall be conducted based on information provided by the private entity in an unsolicited proposal and any supplementary information available within the Department.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Based on the findings of the high-level screening, the Project Committee may recommend to the Secretary that specific Public-Private Partnership concepts be advanced or not advanced to the detailed-level screening.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The Secretary’s written approval shall be required to advance or not advance a Public-Private Partnership concept to the detail-level screening phase.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Within 45 days after receipt of a Public-Private Partnership Candidate Concept Application or unsolicited proposal, the Project Committee shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Notify the Internal Sponsor or private entity that the concept has been advanced or not advanced to detailed-level screening; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Request additional information from the Internal Sponsor or private entity.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Detailed-Level Screening Phase.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The detailed-level screening phase shall be more comprehensive than the high-level screening phase.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>In addition to the findings of the high-level screening phase, analyses and documentation during the detailed-level screening phase may include some or all of the following categories:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Scope, design concepts, and phasing schedules;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Compliance with federal and State environmental and transportation planning requirements;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Technical and financial feasibility analyses;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Evaluation of operations and maintenance requirements;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Asset lifecycle costs and revenue estimates;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Risk assessment of key asset delivery elements;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>In the event that a Public-Private Partnership delivery method may have a potential impact on the workforce or existing State employees, a preliminary assessment of the potential impact and potential options for mitigating that impact, including the protections allotted to State employees that are in effect at the time that the Public-Private Partnership Agreement is approved by the Board of Public Works; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Other analyses determined to be necessary to determine the appropriateness, viability, and effectiveness of a Public-Private Partnership delivery method.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The types of analyses and resources committed to a detailed-level screening phase will be determined by the Project Committee and the Secretary, on a case-by-case basis.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Based on the findings of the detailed-level screening, the Project Committee shall make recommendations to the Secretary as to which Public-Private Partnership concepts should be advanced and which should not be advanced to submission of a pre-solicitation report.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The Secretary’s written approval shall be required to advance or not advance a Public-Private Partnership concept to submission of a pre-solicitation report.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Within 45 days after advancement of a Public-Private Partnership concept to the detailed-level screening analysis phase, the Project Committee shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Notify the Internal Sponsor or private entity that the concept is or is not under development for possible submission of a pre-solicitation report; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Request additional information from the Internal Sponsor or private entity.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>