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Committee clears bill to let INA use alternative procurement for expiring network contract
Summary
House Bill 19 70 would allow the INA board more procurement flexibility (e.g., RFP or special procurement) for its network manager contract set to expire June 30, replacing a three-quote competitive-bid requirement; DIS and procurement staff said the change avoids service interruptions and provides better evaluation criteria.
The committee approved House Bill 19 70 to give the INA board additional procurement methods for a major network-management contract that expires in June.
Jessica Jones, director at the Arkansas Department of Information Systems (DIS), told the committee the current statute requires competitive bidding (three quotes) but not the more robust RFP or special procurement methods other agencies may use. She said the contract for the network manager expires June 30 and the change would allow a procurement method that avoids service interruption.
Edward Armstrong, state procurement director, said an RFP would permit evaluation on technical criteria rather than price alone and that DIS would supply subject-matter expertise while procurement oversight could be managed by the Office of State Procurement. Committee members asked about who would actually manage the procurement; witnesses said DIS would develop specifications and procurement could be administered through the Office of Procurement with oversight.
The committee passed the bill by voice vote. Senator Davis moved to pass and Senator Hill seconded.
