Alabama Joint Contract Review Committee approves new submission manual; hears updates on dozens of agency contracts

The Alabama Joint Contract Review Committee approved a new contract review committee submission manual and then heard presentations from departments including Conservation, Corrections, Education, Medicaid and others about contract extensions, procurements and legal retainers.

Committee Chairman Roberts opened the meeting and asked for a motion to approve the new submission process. After an unnamed motion and second, Chairman Roberts said, "It passes." The committee also heard from agency representatives about about 45 items on the agenda, including marketing contracts for state parks, consultant work for education grants, a $90,000 contract addition at a corrections facility and several contracts tied to litigation and legal services.

The new submission manual was described by Chairman Roberts as intended to simplify filings: "We have tried to make this idiot proof is the best way I could describe it," he said. The chairman said the manual and other materials "will be posted on our website." The committee clerk confirmed the materials should appear online the next day.

Department of Conservation spokeswoman Juliana Dean briefed the…