(Tribune News Service) — The popular state purchasing program that played a role in a $110 million no-bid contract now engulfed in scandal is likely to be revamped during this year’s legislative session, officials predicted this week.
“We’re going to have to do something to make sure we have transparency and best practices,” said state Rep. Gary Elkins of the Cooperative Contracts program, which facilitates more than $2 billion in government purchases every year by pre-approving products and services that agencies can then buy without competitive bidding.
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The program, which is run by the state Department of Information Resources, has drawn scrutiny because it was used by the state health commission to give a $110 million Medicaid fraud detection system contract to an Austin technology company with questionable experience.
via Texas’ Controversial State Purchasing Program Likely to be Revamped, Officials Predict.