Merchant Card Services

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Statewide Procurement Division is seeking a comprehensive Merchant Card Services contract (RFP No. 304T-26-946M1) to enable state agencies and Texas SmartBuy Members to accept credit, debit, ACH, and eCheck payments. The solicitation aims to establish a contract for merchant card processing services covering over 2,000 potential members, with a focus on 100% tokenization and payment optimization. Vendors must provide firm, all-inclusive fixed pricing for the contract period, which runs from the effective date through March 31, 2028, with four potential one-year renewals possible through April 1, 2031. The evaluation process will be conducted in three phases: minimum requirements screening, cost proposal review, and qualifications assessment, with a weighting of 40% for cost and 60% for qualifications. Key requirements include passing through interchange fees without markup, supporting 425 existing payment devices (primarily Clover and INGENICO models), and providing transparent fee structures for various processing methods. The solicitation was posted on October 3, 2025, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for October 20, 2025, and responses due by December 2, 2025, at 1:30 pm Central Time.

The procurement does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though the response documents include certifications related to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. The current infrastructure includes 425 payment devices across various state agencies, including the Secretary of State, Railroad Commission of Texas, Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas Department of Transportation. The Comptroller's Office intends to select a single contractor but reserves the right to choose multiple vendors. The projected contract value is estimated to exceed $930 million, assuming all renewal options are exercised. Respondents must complete comprehensive certification forms, including disclosures about ownership, criminal history, and compliance with state procurement guidelines. The contract will not be exclusive, and while over 2,000 Texas SmartBuy Members are eligible to use the contract, they are not required to do so. Vendors must be prepared for potential performance reviews that could be posted on the Vendor Performance Tracking System, with poor performance potentially resulting in debarment from state contracts.