By: Nelson S.B. No. 533

(In the Senate - Filed January 19, 2017; February 8, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; March 30, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 14, Nays 0; March 30, 2017, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 533 By: Nelson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state agency contracting and procurement.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2054.1181(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) At the direction of the governor, lieutenant governor, or speaker of the house of representatives [The quality assurance team, in coordination with the governor, may recommend major information resources projects to the department for oversight. As part of this oversight], the department shall provide additional oversight services for major information resources projects, including risk management, quality assurance services, independent project monitoring, and project management. A state agency with a project selected for oversight shall pay for oversight by the department and quality assurance team based on a funding model developed by the department. The department may contract with a vendor to provide the necessary oversight at the department's direction.

SECTION 2. Section 2054.158, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2054.158. QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM; DUTIES. (a) The comptroller, state auditor, Legislative Budget Board, and department shall:

(1) create a quality assurance team to perform the duties specified in this chapter and other law; [and]

(2) specify in writing the responsibilities of the comptroller, state auditor, Legislative Budget Board, and department in performing the duties; and

(3) create an automated project review system.

(b) The quality assurance team shall:

(1) develop and recommend policies and procedures to improve state agency information resources technology projects; [and]

(2) develop and recommend procedures to improve the implementation of state agency information resources technology projects by including considerations for best value and return on investment; and

(3) provide annual training for state agency procurement and contract management staff on best practices and methodologies for information technology contracts.

(c) The state auditor serves on the quality assurance team as an advisor.

SECTION 3. Section 2054.303(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) For each proposed major information resources project or major contract, a state agency must prepare:

(1) a business case providing the initial justification for the project or contract, including the anticipated return on investment in terms of cost savings and efficiency for the project or contract; [and]

(2) a statewide impact analysis of the project's or contract's effect on the state's common information resources infrastructure, including the possibility of reusing code or other resources; and

(3) in consultation with the department, a technical architectural assessment of the project or contract.

SECTION 4. Section 2054.304, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(d) In each project plan for a major information resources project, the state agency shall consider incorporating into the project the applicable best practices recommended in the quality assurance team's annual report.

(e) A state agency contract for a major information resources project must comply with the requirements in the comptroller's contract management guide developed under Section 2262.051.

SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 2155.090 and 2155.091 to read as follows:

Sec. 2155.090. VENDOR AND EMPLOYEE INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION POLICY. The comptroller shall update a contract management guide to include policies on the interactions and communication between employees of the state agency and a vendor that contracts with the state agency or seeks to conduct business with the state agency.

(b) This subtitle does not prohibit the exchange of information between a state agency and a vendor related to future solicitations or as necessary to monitor an existing contract.

Sec. 2155.091. CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER: POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The comptroller shall employ a chief procurement officer to serve as the chief procurement officer for this state.

(b) The chief procurement officer has authority over state agency procurement, including the authority to:

(1) analyze state purchasing data to leverage state purchasing power;

(2) provide functional support to state agencies;

(3) provide training on state purchasing and contract management;

(4) review major contract solicitations for information technology projects monitored by the quality assurance team under Section 2054.158;

(5) review solicitations for major contracts reviewed by the Contract Advisory Team under Section 2262.101;

(6) delegate to a state agency authority to contract for the purchase of a good or service valued in an amount specified by comptroller rule; and

(7) provide leadership on procurement issues.

(c) A state agency shall comply with any request for information from the chief procurement officer necessary to conduct the analysis authorized by Subsection (b)(1).

(d) The chief procurement officer shall coordinate with the Department of Information Resources and the quality assurance team to conduct a contract solicitation review required by Subsection (a)(4) and make appropriate recommendations to the comptroller and legislature based on the review. This section grants the chief procurement officer authority only to review a contract solicitation. The Department of Information Resources or the appropriate state agency retains the authority to award a statewide information resources contract as authorized by law.

(e) The chief procurement officer shall coordinate with the Contract Advisory Team to conduct the review required by Section 2262.101. A state agency shall comply with any request for information by the chief procurement officer that is necessary to conduct the review.

SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 2155, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2155.205 to read as follows:

Sec. 2155.205. INTERSTATE PURCHASING. (a) Notwithstanding Section 2156.181 or other law, the comptroller may enter into agreements to authorize state agencies and political subdivisions of other states to purchase goods or services through comptroller contracts.

(b) The comptroller may charge a reasonable administrative fee to state agencies and political subdivisions of other states that purchase a good or service under this section.

SECTION 7. Sections 2157.068(e-1) and (e-2), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(e-1) A state agency contracting to purchase a commodity item shall use the list maintained as required by Subsection (e) as follows:

(1) for a contract with a value of $50,000 or less, the agency may directly award the contract to a vendor included on the list without submission of a request for pricing to other vendors on the list;

(2) for a contract with a value of more than $50,000 but not more than $1 million [$150,000], the agency must submit a request for pricing to at least three vendors included on the list in the category to which the contract relates; and

(3) for a contract with a value of more than $1 million [$150,000] but not more than $5 [$1] million, the agency must submit a request for pricing to at least six vendors included on the list in the category to which the contract relates or all vendors on the schedule if the category has fewer than six vendors.

(e-2) A state agency may not enter into a contract to purchase a commodity item if the value of the contract exceeds $5 [$1] million.

SECTION 8. Section 2261.252, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (e) to read as follows:

(a-1) A state agency employee or official is required to disclose under Subsection (a) any potential conflict of interest specified by state law or agency policy that is known by the employee or official at any time during:

(1) the procurement process, from the initial request for bids for the purchase of goods or services from a private vendor until the completed final delivery of the goods or services; or

(2) the term of a contract with a private vendor.

(e) This section applies only to a contract for the purchase of goods or services solicited through a purchase order if the amount of the purchase order exceeds $25,000.

SECTION 9. Section 2261.253, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(b) [A state agency monthly may post contracts described by] Subsection (a) does not apply to a contract posted on the major contracts database established under Section 322.020 [that are valued at less than $15,000].

(e) A state agency that posts a contract on its Internet website as required under this section shall redact from the posted contract:

(1) information that is confidential under law;

(2) information the attorney general determines is excepted from public disclosure under Chapter 552; and

(3) the social security number of any individual.

SECTION 10. Section 2262.101(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The Contract Advisory Team is created to assist state agencies in improving contract management practices by:

(1) reviewing and making recommendations on the solicitation documents and contract documents for contracts of state agencies that have a value of at least $5 [$10] million;

(2) reviewing any findings or recommendations made by the state auditor, including those made under Section 2262.052(b), regarding a state agency's compliance with the contract management guide;

(3) providing recommendations to the comptroller regarding:

(A) the development of the contract management guide; and

(B) the training under Section 2262.053;

(4) providing recommendations and assistance to state agency personnel throughout the contract management process;

(5) coordinating and consulting with the quality assurance team established under Section 2054.158 on all contracts relating to a major information resources project;

(6) developing and recommending policies and procedures to improve state agency contract management practices;

(7) developing and recommending procedures to improve state agency contracting practices by including consideration for best value; and

(8) creating and periodically performing a risk assessment to determine the appropriate level of management and oversight of contracts by state agencies.

SECTION 11. Section 2262.102, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) The chief procurement officer described by Section 2155.091 may add members to the team by designating members from state agencies that agree to participate on the team. A state agency may decline a request to participate on the team under this subsection by submitting a written statement declining the request to the chief procurement officer.

SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 8, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 8.012 to read as follows:

Sec. 8.012. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT GUIDE. The agency shall comply with the comptroller's contract management guide developed under Section 2262.051, Government Code, in each contract between the agency and a regional education service center established under this chapter.

SECTION 13. (a) Not later than January 1, 2018, the comptroller shall:

(1) employ a chief procurement officer as required by Section 2155.091, Government Code, as added by this Act;

(2) modify the contract management guide as required by Section 2262.051(i), Government Code, as added by this Act; and

(3) adopt any rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2018, each state agency shall adopt a vendor and employee interaction and communication policy as required by Section 2155.090, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(c) The changes in law made by this Act apply only in relation to a contract for which a state agency first advertises or otherwise solicits bids, proposals, offers, or qualifications on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

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