(a) As provided by Texas Government Code §540.0203, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) awards a contract under Texas Government Code Chapter 540 to a managed care organization (MCO) only if the MCO has been certified by HHSC as reasonably able to fulfill the terms of the contract, including all requirements of applicable federal and state law. (b) HHSC determines whether to certify an MCO following the evaluation of the proposals submitted in response to a solicitation. Certification and the certification determination process described in this section do not impact an MCO's final score in the evaluation, but failure to obtain certification results in no further consideration of the MCO for the contract award. (c) In its certification determination, HHSC may review: (1) materials submitted by the MCO in response to the solicitation; (2) materials related to the MCO's past performance in any state, including materials required to be monitored by a state's managed care program under 42 C.F.R. §438.66(c); and (3) any additional information and assurances requested by HHSC from the MCO for purposes of the certification determination. (d) HHSC provides notice of approval or denial of certification by electronic mail to an MCO. A notice of denial sets forth the reasons for the denial of certification. If an MCO is denied certification, the MCO may appeal the denial by submitting an appeal to the solicitation's sole point of contact no later than 10 business days after the date HHSC transmits the notice of denial of certification. (e) An appeal must specifically address the reasons for the denial of the certification as stated in the notice of denial and precisely state the argument, authorities, and evidence the MCO offers in support of its appeal. (f) To resolve an appeal, HHSC: (1) dismisses the appeal as untimely; (2) upholds the denial of certification; or (3) reverses the denial of certification and certifies the MCO as reasonably able to fulfill the terms of the contract, including all requirements of applicable federal and state law. (g) After the expiration of the appeal period and the resolution of any pending appeals, MCOs that obtained the required certification will proceed to the next phase of the contract award process. (h) HHSC's determination whether to certify that an MCO is reasonably able to fulfill the terms of a contract is not a contested case proceeding under the Texas Administrative Procedure Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 2001.