The bill amends the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act to enhance the roles of the State Purchasing Director and the Chief Information Officer, particularly in the areas of contract bidding and procurement processes. It requires the Chief Information Officer to document justifications for not bidding certain contracts and to detail negotiation efforts. Additionally, pilot projects initiated by the State Purchasing Director are limited to twelve months. The bill clarifies that state agencies acquiring professional services are exempt from competitive bidding and expands the definition of "person" to include employees of state officials. It also mandates training for procurement officials and establishes conditions under which state agencies can make acquisitions without competitive bidding, emphasizing the importance of documentation and compliance.

Moreover, the bill introduces a $250,000 limit for acquisitions that do not require a requisition to the Purchasing Division and prohibits split purchasing to avoid competitive bidding. It deletes previous provisions related to the state employees' flexible benefits plan and allows for client acquisitions by the State Department of Rehabilitation Services. The bill also specifies that state agencies must retain signed certifications for sole source and sole brand acquisitions and requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to publish monthly reports on these acquisitions, replacing the previous reporting requirements. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 74-85.5, 74-85.7, 74-85.42