This bill aims to amend and enhance the procurement processes for technology and technical infrastructure products and services by state spending units and local fiscal bodies in West Virginia. Key changes include the establishment of new procurement thresholds, where sealed bids for technical infrastructure exceeding $250,000 must be solicited, while those at or below this threshold can be delegated to the spending unit. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section allowing state spending units to procure technical infrastructure through competitively procured agreements, with a response time of 30 days from the director. It also emphasizes compliance and reporting requirements for spending units to prevent circumvention of procurement limits.

Furthermore, the bill allows local fiscal bodies to enter into multi-year technology license service agreements, provided they justify such contracts with documentation of fiscal savings. It mandates the approval of at least two Information Technology (IT) marketplace portals by September 1, 2026, which must meet specific qualifications to facilitate procurement. The Chief Information Officer is tasked with determining the advantages of using these portals for technical infrastructure procurement. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline procurement processes, enhance efficiency, and promote innovation within state and local government operations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 5A-3-10, 5A-6-2, 11-8-26, 5A-3-10f, 5A-6-4f