Sec. 04.01.05.03. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) “Budget Committees” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(2) “Department” means the Department of General Services.

(3) “Industry forum” means a pre-solicitation information gathering event that may include public and private sector participants.

(4) “Industry review meeting” means a meeting during the solicitation process with shortlisted private entities.

(5) “Internal sponsor” means the senior manager or executive staff member of the Department of General Services that will serve as the primary support, or advocate, for the proposed project being submitted for consideration.

(6) “Multi-step solicitation process” means a Public-Private Partnership solicitation process that includes some or all of the following steps:

(a) Issuance of a Request for Information (RFI);

(b) Issuance of a request for qualifications;

(c) Pre-proposal conference;

(d) Issuance of a draft request for proposals;

(e) Industry review meetings; and

(f) Issuance of a final request for proposals.

(7) “Private entity” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(8) “Program” means the structure, process, methodology, and terms and conditions applicable to the Department’s development, solicitation, evaluation, award, and delivery of non-transit public infrastructure assets for which it is responsible in accordance with State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(9) “Project Committee” is the Public-Private Infrastructure Project Committee established to advise the Secretary on the structure and implementation of the Department’s Public-Private Partnership Program and comprised of Department and other State employees identified by the Secretary.

(10) “Public infrastructure asset” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(11) “Public notice of solicitation” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(12) “Public-Private Partnership” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(13) “Public-Private Partnership candidate concept application” means the documentation that must be submitted to the Project Committee to initiate and inform a high-level review of a Public-Private concept generated from within the Department, or by other State agencies.

(14) “Reporting agency” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(15) “Responsibility determination” has the meaning stated in State Finance and Procurement Article, §10A-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(16) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of General Services.

(17) “Shortlisted private entity” means a private entity that has been both qualified based on its response to a request for qualifications and selected as one of the highest qualified private entities, allowing them to continue in the solicitation process.