Section 10A-202 - General consideration(a) If a reporting agency intends to establish a public-private partnership under § 10A-103 of this title, the reporting agency shall issue a public notice of solicitation for the public-private partnership.(b)(1) A private entity may be qualified as a bidder through a request for qualifications.(2) After a bidder is qualified and at any time before the award of the public-private partnership agreement, a reporting agency may engage in discussions with qualified bidders.(3) These discussions may be held to:(i) obtain comments and make revisions to solicitation documents;(ii) obtain the best value for the State; and(iii) ensure full understanding of:1. the requirements of the State, as set forth in the request for proposals; and2. the proposal submitted by the bidder.(c) For any private entity that responds to the public notice of solicitation, a reporting agency shall make a responsibility determination.(d) If a private entity is composed of multiple subentities or partners, the reporting agency shall make a responsibility determination for each subentity or partner owning 20% or more of the entity.(e) Any changes in the ownership composition of a public-private partnership, as described in subsection (d) of this section, require:(1) a responsibility determination;(2) 45 days' notice to the budget committees; and(3) approval by the Board of Public Works.(f)(1) A reporting agency may reimburse a private entity for the portion of the entity's costs incurred in response to the solicitation of a public-private partnership.(2) A reporting agency shall adopt regulations that establish the process for reimbursing a private entity under paragraph (1) of this subsection.(3) Regulations adopted under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall:(i) provide for the reimbursement of a private entity based on the dollar value of a project, the value of any work product received from the private entity, or any other method for calculating such reimbursement; and(ii) specify a maximum dollar amount that a reporting agency may reimburse a private entity for costs incurred under paragraph (1) of this subsection.(4) A reporting agency may pay a private entity that submits an unsuccessful proposal for the right to use the private entity's work product.(5) A reporting agency may not reimburse a private entity for any portion of the costs incurred to develop a response to a public notice of solicitation if: (i) the private entity enters into a public-private partnership agreement with the reporting agency; and(ii) the public-private partnership agreement entered into under item (i) of this paragraph is approved by the Board of Public Works.Added by 2013 Md. Laws, Ch. 5,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2013.