(a) A medical or dental unit listed under § 61.003, Education Code, may purchase through the use of competitive sealed proposals:
(1) prototypes of medical equipment not yet available on the market;
(2) medical equipment so new to the market that its benefits are not fully known; and
(3) major medical equipment that is so technically complex that development of specifications for competitive bidding is not feasible.
(b) To make a purchase under this section, the medical or dental unit must:
(1) follow the competitive sealed proposals procedures under Subchapter C, Chapter 2157, and comptroller rules on the use of competitive sealed proposals; and
(2) submit to the comptroller a written finding that competitive sealed bidding or informal competitive bidding is not practical or is disadvantageous to the state for the proposed acquisition.