Definitions.

Houston Code of Ordinances § 15-42

in effect

Sec. 15-42. - Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms have the meanings set forth below: Bid means the response submitted by a bidder to an invitation to bid (ITB), including any variation of the competitive bid process, such as best-value bid or multi-step bid. Proposal means the response submitted by a vendor in response to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the city. Procurement means the process by which pricing, qualifications, and bids and/or proposals for goods and services are solicited from vendors, which may result in contracts for the purchase of such goods or services. Procurement includes three phases: planning and sourcing, solicitation (through the selected method of procurement and contract award) and contract administration (performance and close-out). Public work means a project calling for the construction, repair or renovation of buildings, streets, bridges, sewers, water lines, or any other publicly owned improvements to real property. Request for proposals (RFP) means the document used to solicit proposals for services or a combination of goods and services from vendors. Price is not the primary evaluation criterion but is a factor considered in the determination of best value and affordability. The process may consist of two steps (prequalification and proposals) or a single step (proposals including consideration of quality). Public private partnership (P3) means an agreement between the city and the private sector by which the private sector makes physical assets or services available to a public entity for an extended term in exchange for fixed payments over a term of 20 years or more. Request for qualifications (RFQ) means the document used to solicit statements of qualifications from vendors. The process is generally used to pre-qualify vendors as part of a multistep process or to select professional services prohibiting price as a consideration or whenever the best interest of the city is served. Reverse auction means a real time bidding process that occurs online and allows vendors to compete during the short time allowed for the bidding. Each vendor knows the bids of all the others and can repeatedly amend a bid while the auction proceeds. Solicitation means the document used to solicit bids, proposals, or qualifications. Submission means the document responding to a RFQ. Threshold means the amount of expenditure that triggers a requirement for a competitive procurement under state law, as may be amended from time to time. Vendor means a provider of goods and/or services, including professional and construction services, that does business or seeks to do business with the city. Work services means services that are not of a professional or consulting nature that involve manual labor or are performed by skilled trades. (Ord. No. 2015-668, § 4(Exh. B), 7-8-2015)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH15CO_ARTIIICOPR_S15-42DEFetched: 10/26/2026