DIR establishes blanket exemptions for procurement of certain IT commodities. If a state agency decides to proceed with an IT commodity procurement under a blanket exemption, the procurement must be made in accordance with the exact scope, terms, and requirements specified in the Blanket Exemptions.
List of Blanket Exemptions
Emergency Procurement Exemption
State agencies are granted an exemption from the requirement to purchase IT commodities through a DIR contract if a situation arises in which compliance with §2157.068, Texas Government Code, and/or Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Part 10, Chapter 212, is impractical or contrary to the public interest, and an Emergency Procurement is warranted to prevent a hazard to life, health, safety, welfare, or property or to avoid undue additional cost to the state. The scope and duration of the purchases shall not exceed the duration of the emergency.
Critical Need Exemption
State agencies are granted an exemption from the requirement to purchase IT commodities through a DIR contract if an unforeseeable circumstance occurs that requires immediate attention, but does not qualify as an Emergency Procurement as defined in Texas Administrative Code, Title 1, Part 5, Chapter 113, Subchapter A, Section 113.2(21). This exemption is for procurements not to exceed $1,500 and that are necessary to restore operation or to correct severely impaired operations due to an equipment failure.
TIBH Set-Aside Exemption
State agencies are granted an exemption from the requirement to purchase IT commodities through a DIR contract if those commodity IT items are offered in the Texas Industries for the Blind & Handicapped (TIBH) catalog and designated by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission as a product that is set aside from competitive bidding and offered through a TPASS term contract.
Outsourced Deliverables-Based Projects
Commodity technology services do not include deliverables-based, outsourced systems integration or application development projects greater than $10 million. Therefore, state agencies are granted an exemption from the requirement to purchase through a DIR contract when purchasing these types of services when greater than $10 million.
Minimum Threshold Procurements
State agencies are granted an exemption from the requirement to purchase IT commodities through a DIR contract for procurements not to exceed $250.
Seat Management Lease Established Prior to 9/01/2005
An exemption for a seat management agreement established prior to September 1, 2005, is valid through the initial term of the agreement, but no extensions or renewals are allowed.
Technology Lease Established Prior to 9/01/2005
An exemption for a hardware or software lease established prior to September 1, 2005, is valid through the initial term of the agreement, but no extensions or renewals are allowed.
Computer/Office Accessories and Consumables Exemption through 8/31/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for the procurement of Computer/Office Accessories and Consumables for the specific IT Commodity codes listed below:
IT Commodity / Description
207-30
Compact Disks, DVD, ROM, etc.
207-42
Diskettes, Disk Packs, Floppy Diskettes, Labels, etc.
207-72
Printer Accessories and Supplies: Chemicals, Forms Tractors, Inks and Cartridges, Paper, Label Sheets, Sheet Feeders, Toner Cartridges Wheels, etc.
207-79
Recycled Computer Accessories and Supplies
207-87
Tapes, Tape Cartridges, Tape Cassettes, Tape Reels, Tape Labels, etc.
610-56
Ribbons, Computer and Data Processing, All Types (For Tab See 610-73)
610-63
Ribbons, Teleprinter and Teletype, All Types
Radio Tower Rental or Lease Exemption through 08/31/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for the rental or lease of radio towers only. This exemption is valid for the IT Commodity codes listed below:
IT Commodity / Description
985-69
Radio and Telecommunications Equipment and Accessory Rental or Lease (Including Radio Towers)
Software Maintenance Exemption through 08/31/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for the procurement of software maintenance, if the software maintenance is proprietary or is not available from one of the contracted vendors listed on the DIR Software website. State agencies are advised to check the website prior to the purchase, as DIR adds new software titles on a regular basis. This exemption is valid for the IT Commodity codes listed below:
IT Commodity / Description
920-45
Software Maintenance/Support
Training Services Exemption through 08/31/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for the procurement of training services, if the training is not available from one of the contracted vendors listed on the DIR Training website. State agencies are advised to check the website prior to the procurement, as the training vendors may add new training course titles on a regular basis. This exemption is valid for the IT Commodity codes listed below:
IT Commodity / Description
920-91
Training, Computer Based (Software Supported)
924-40
Instructor-led Classroom Training (Including Technical)
Subscription Services Exemptions through 08/31/2013
Database Subscription service not offered under any current DIR contract for class code 956-35.
Job Posting Services Exemptions through 08/31/2013
Internet job posting not offered under any current DIR contract for class code 915-51.
Accessibility-Related Commodity Items and Services Exemption through 08/31/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for Assistive Technology Hardware, Software and Related Services as set forth below. This exemption is valid only when the product or service does not exist on a DIR contract and is for the use and benefit of consumers or staff that are blind or visually impaired. This exemption will include licenses for assistive software if the Publisher is not listed on a DIR contract. Examples of exempt items include, but are not limited to:
- Assistive software – Jaws, Kurzweil, Zoomtext, MaGic, Duxbury, SuperNovas and other screen magnification and reading, speech input and voice recognition interface, and / or with Braille support.
- Hardware products – Deaf Blind communicators, Diabetic voice meters and talking BP cuffs, talking cash registers and weight scales, voice activated alarms, hearing devices, video cameras and hand held magnifiers, assistive CCTV’s, Braille Displays and embossers and assistive note takers.
- Assistive services – Services for evaluating and training consumers. Services under this exemption work in coordination with assistive hardware and software falling under this exemption.
The specific IT Commodity codes for this exemption are listed below:
IT Commodity / Description
204-all items
Computer hardware and peripherals for microcomputers
207-10, 207-30
Computer Accessories and Supplies
208-all items
Computer Software for Microcomputers (Preprogrammed)
465-07
Hospital and surgical equipment, instruments and supplies
470-all items
Hospital, nursing home or residential specialized equipment for the handicapped and disabled
475-29
600-14, 600-30
Office machines, equipment and accessories
710-09, 710-73, 710-92
726-13
Radio communication equipment, accessories and supplies
780-18
839-84
Telephone equipment, accessories and supplies
840-70, 840-84
Television equipment and accessories
952-90
Telecommunications Services Exemptions through 09/30/2013
State agencies are granted an exemption for the procurement of Telecommunications Services that are not a part of Tex-AN or the Capitol Complex Telephone System (CCTS). The following services are included in this exemption:
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Cellular devices and service (applies only to devices bought with corresponding service, i.e., cell phones, Blackberries, air cards, etc.)
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Pager devices and service
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Local telephone service
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Over the phone interpretation service
The specific IT Commodity codes for this exemption are listed below. The exemption for these IT Commodity codes only applies for the specific services listed above.
IT Commodity / Description
726-70
Pagers, Radio (including parts and accessories)
839-35
Cellular Telephones (All Types)
839-63
Radio Telephones (Including Cellular Type for Vehicle, Marine, Personal, etc.)
915-05
Answering/Paging Services
915-75
Telephone Services, Cellular
915-77
Telephone Services, Long Distance and Local
961-17
Interpreter Services – Electronically Assisted – Foreign Language, Hearing Impaired, etc.
Go to:
IT Commodity Purchasing Guidelines for State Agencies
IT Commodity Definitions
Exemption Request Form
Resources:
Rules affecting state agencies for IT commodity items
