Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) Study Guide –
2026/2027 Syllabus
I. Texas Contract Management Framework & Ethics
1. What is the primary statutory authority governing most procurement by state
agencies in Texas?
ANSWER ✓ The Texas Procurement and Contract Management Guide, primarily
informed by Texas Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D (State Purchasing and General
Services), with Chapters 2151, 2155-2158 being central.
2. Which entity has centralized authority for establishing procurement rules and
oversight for major state agencies?
ANSWER ✓ The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), specifically the
Procurement and Contract Management (PCM) division.
3. What are the four pillars of ethical conduct required of Texas contract managers
under Texas Government Code Chapter 572?
ANSWER ✓ Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, and Impartiality in all official actions.
4. What state statute specifically addresses conflicts of interest for state officers
and employees?
ANSWER ✓ Texas Government Code, Chapter 572, Subchapter B.
5. When must a state employee disqualify themselves from a procurement
process?
ANSWER ✓ When they have a personal or financial interest in a vendor competing for
the contract, or when a close relative has such an interest, which could reasonably be
expected to diminish their impartiality.
6. What is the key distinction between a "bid" and a "proposal" in Texas
procurement?
ANSWER ✓ A bid is typically used in formal, sealed bidding (Invitation for Bids - IFB)
where price is the primary determinant and responses are not subject to negotiation.
A proposal (Response to a Request for Proposals - RFP) involves evaluation on multiple
criteria (e.g., quality, methodology, price) and may involve negotiations.
7. What is the purpose of the Texas Ethics Commission's required training?
ANSWER ✓ To educate state employees and officers on ethics laws, including campaign
finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and personal financial disclosure.
, 8. What is a "cone of silence" and when is it typically implemented?
ANSWER ✓ It's a prohibition on unauthorized communications between potential
vendors and agency personnel during an active solicitation period, from the release of
the solicitation until contract award is posted.
9. What is the primary goal of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
program?
ANSWER ✓ To promote equal opportunity in state contracting for businesses owned by
minorities, women, disabled veterans, and service-disabled veterans, and to increase
their participation in state procurement.
10. When is it permissible to accept a gift from a vendor or potential vendor?
ANSWER ✓ It is generally not permissible under Texas Government Code Chapter 572.
Exceptions are strictly limited (e.g., non-cash items valued under $50, certain meals, gifts
from personal friends unrelated to official duties).
II. Procurement Planning & Solicitation Development
11. What must be included in a Request for Offers (RFO) for professional services
under Government Code Chapter 2254?
ANSWER ✓ A description of the professional services needed, the selection criteria
(including weighted factors), and a statement that fee negotiations will be conducted
with the top-ranked firm.
12. What is the minimum public posting period for an Invitation for Bids (IFB) or
Request for Proposals (RFP) on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)?
ANSWER ✓ 21 calendar days for most non-exempt procurements, unless a shorter time
is justified and documented.
13. What is the purpose of a pre-proposal conference?
ANSWER ✓ To explain the solicitation requirements to potential vendors, answer
questions, and ensure all parties have a clear and common understanding, which helps
reduce ambiguities and improve response quality.
14. When can an agency use a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) instead of an RFP
or IFB?
ANSWER ✓ Typically for architectural, engineering, or land surveying services (as
mandated by the Professional Services Procurement Act), or when the agency needs to
pre-qualify a pool of vendors before a specific project solicitation.
15. What is a "sole source" procurement and what justification is required?
ANSWER ✓ A procurement where only one vendor can provide the needed good or
2026/2027 Syllabus
I. Texas Contract Management Framework & Ethics
1. What is the primary statutory authority governing most procurement by state
agencies in Texas?
ANSWER ✓ The Texas Procurement and Contract Management Guide, primarily
informed by Texas Government Code, Title 10, Subtitle D (State Purchasing and General
Services), with Chapters 2151, 2155-2158 being central.
2. Which entity has centralized authority for establishing procurement rules and
oversight for major state agencies?
ANSWER ✓ The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), specifically the
Procurement and Contract Management (PCM) division.
3. What are the four pillars of ethical conduct required of Texas contract managers
under Texas Government Code Chapter 572?
ANSWER ✓ Honesty, Integrity, Fairness, and Impartiality in all official actions.
4. What state statute specifically addresses conflicts of interest for state officers
and employees?
ANSWER ✓ Texas Government Code, Chapter 572, Subchapter B.
5. When must a state employee disqualify themselves from a procurement
process?
ANSWER ✓ When they have a personal or financial interest in a vendor competing for
the contract, or when a close relative has such an interest, which could reasonably be
expected to diminish their impartiality.
6. What is the key distinction between a "bid" and a "proposal" in Texas
procurement?
ANSWER ✓ A bid is typically used in formal, sealed bidding (Invitation for Bids - IFB)
where price is the primary determinant and responses are not subject to negotiation.
A proposal (Response to a Request for Proposals - RFP) involves evaluation on multiple
criteria (e.g., quality, methodology, price) and may involve negotiations.
7. What is the purpose of the Texas Ethics Commission's required training?
ANSWER ✓ To educate state employees and officers on ethics laws, including campaign
finance, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and personal financial disclosure.
, 8. What is a "cone of silence" and when is it typically implemented?
ANSWER ✓ It's a prohibition on unauthorized communications between potential
vendors and agency personnel during an active solicitation period, from the release of
the solicitation until contract award is posted.
9. What is the primary goal of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
program?
ANSWER ✓ To promote equal opportunity in state contracting for businesses owned by
minorities, women, disabled veterans, and service-disabled veterans, and to increase
their participation in state procurement.
10. When is it permissible to accept a gift from a vendor or potential vendor?
ANSWER ✓ It is generally not permissible under Texas Government Code Chapter 572.
Exceptions are strictly limited (e.g., non-cash items valued under $50, certain meals, gifts
from personal friends unrelated to official duties).
II. Procurement Planning & Solicitation Development
11. What must be included in a Request for Offers (RFO) for professional services
under Government Code Chapter 2254?
ANSWER ✓ A description of the professional services needed, the selection criteria
(including weighted factors), and a statement that fee negotiations will be conducted
with the top-ranked firm.
12. What is the minimum public posting period for an Invitation for Bids (IFB) or
Request for Proposals (RFP) on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)?
ANSWER ✓ 21 calendar days for most non-exempt procurements, unless a shorter time
is justified and documented.
13. What is the purpose of a pre-proposal conference?
ANSWER ✓ To explain the solicitation requirements to potential vendors, answer
questions, and ensure all parties have a clear and common understanding, which helps
reduce ambiguities and improve response quality.
14. When can an agency use a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) instead of an RFP
or IFB?
ANSWER ✓ Typically for architectural, engineering, or land surveying services (as
mandated by the Professional Services Procurement Act), or when the agency needs to
pre-qualify a pool of vendors before a specific project solicitation.
15. What is a "sole source" procurement and what justification is required?
ANSWER ✓ A procurement where only one vendor can provide the needed good or
