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PS California Procurement Committee

Anna Brannen, Deputy Secretary for Policy, California Technology Agency speaking at a meeting of our California Procurement Committee, January 2012.

Chair: Ann Shook, EMC

Our California Procurement Reform Committee was formed in 2001 because of keen interest on the part of TechAmerica member companies who conduct business with the State of California. This committee has works directly with senior officials from the State of California’s Department of General Services (DGS), the Office of the State CIO, and the Governor’s office.

In early February 2010, TechAmerica’s California Procurement Committee held an in-person meeting in Sacramento to develop its reform agenda for the coming year. Because we mindful that this is the final year of the Schwarzenegger Administration, we are aware of the need to maximize our efforts during the upcoming months

TechAmerica ’s most notable achievements in California are:

- In 2009, TechAmerica supported three important changes proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger that were adopted in July by the California Legislature, namely: (1) changes to the Follow-On Contracts statute so as to make it clear that Phased Procurements are in fact permitted; (2) changes to the mandatory requirement for a ten percent (10%) “withhold” of IT contracts, and (3) elimination of the “good faith effort” requirement in the DVBE rules.

- In 2008, TechAmerica led a coalition to stop AB730 (DeLeon) from passage; this legislation would have unfairly targeted IT vendors.

- In 2007, TechAmerica sponsored legislation (AB 617 by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico) that changed the statutory obligation for a 50% Performance Bond for most IT contracts. This new statute took effect in early 2008. DGS is currently establishing new Risk Assessment Guidelines that were required by the legislation.

- In 2006, TechAmerica advocated for the State to embrace a procedure that would permit some negotiation (of terms and conditions) with the highest rated bidder after submission of final proposals but before notice of intent to award.

- In January 2003, the State of California revised its so-called model Terms and Conditions for IT contracts in order to be more aligned with Terms commonly used in the commercial marketplace and which would hopefully create more competition in bids for IT contracts with the State. These revisions were the direct result of lengthy dialog with TechAmerica members throughout much of 2001 and 2002.

The committee’s activities are focused in two primary areas:

- Interaction with DGS (Department of General Services) and the Office of the State CIO (OCIO) on Terms and Conditions and related procurement reforms, and

- Advocating on any procurement-related bills before the California Legislature.

Contact Carol Henton, VP, State & Local (chenton@techamerica.org) in our Santa Clara, California office, for more information on our procurement activities in California.

Recent Committee Communications:

TechAmerica’s Veto Request Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger re California SB 967 (Correa), 7 September 2010, click here.

TechAmerica Assembly Floor Alert on California SB 967 (Correa), 19 August 2010, click here.

TechAmerica Floor Alert on CA SB967, sponsored by Senator Lou Correa, 1 June 2010, click here.

ITAA’s Letter in Opposition to CA AB 730, sponsored by Asm. Kevin DeLeon, 25 July 2008, click here.

ITAA’s Letter in Opposition to CA AB 730, sponsored by Asm. Kevin DeLeon, 09 January 2008, click here.

ITAA made a formal recommendation to California state officials on the issue of Performance Bonds. Click here for the link to our letter on 19 June 2006.

2 Comments

[...] California Procurement Committee Established in 2000, this committee focuses on a variety of issues of interest to the vendor community doing business with the State of California. We continue to dialogue with California’s Department of General Services (DGS) on IT terms and conditions and procurement-related policies & procedures. Staff contact: Carol Henton [...]

TechAmerica.org State & Local Government on July 15, 2010 : 10:01 am

[...] for reforms of procurement policies and procedures (in states outside of California). The California Procurement Committee works on legislative and administrative issues related to California state and local government [...]

TechAmerica.org PS State Procurement Committee on August 24, 2010 : 2:24 pm

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