Subd. 1. Agency cooperation.

Agencies shall fully cooperate with the commissioner in the management and review of state contracts and in the development and implementation of strategic sourcing techniques.

Subd. 2. Creation and validity of contracts.

1. (a) A contract is not valid and the state is not bound by it and no agency, without the prior written approval of the commissioner granted pursuant to subdivision 2a, may authorize work to begin on it unless:

   1. (1) it has first been executed by the head of the agency or a delegate who is a party to the contract;
   2. (2) it has been approved by the commissioner; and
   3. (3) the accounting system shows an encumbrance for the amount of the contract liability, except as allowed by policy approved by the commissioner and commissioner of finance for routine, low-dollar procurements.
2. (b) The combined contract and amendments must not exceed five years without specific, written approval by the commissioner according to established policy, procedures, and standards, or unless otherwise provided for by law. The term of the original contract must not exceed two years unless the commissioner determines that a longer duration is in the best interest of the state.
3. (c) Grants, interagency agreements, purchase orders, work orders, and annual plans need not, in the discretion of the commissioner and attorney general, require the signature of the commissioner and/or the attorney general. A signature is not required for work orders and amendments to work orders related to Department of Transportation contracts. Bond purchase agreements by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority do not require the approval of the commissioner.
4. (d) Amendments to contracts must entail tasks that are substantially similar to those in the original contract or involve tasks that are so closely related to the original contract that it would be impracticable for a different contractor to perform the work. The commissioner or an agency official to whom the commissioner has delegated contracting authority under section 16C.03, subdivision 16 , must determine that an amendment would serve the interest of the state better than a new contract and would cost no more.
5. (e) A fully executed copy of every contract, amendments to the contract, and performance evaluations relating to the contract must be kept on file at the contracting agency for a time equal to that specified for contract vendors and other parties in subdivision 5.
6. (f) The attorney general must periodically review and evaluate a sample of state agency contracts to ensure compliance with laws.

Subd. 2a. Emergency authorization.

The commissioner may grant an agency approval to authorize work to begin on a contract prior to the full execution of the contract in the event of an emergency as defined in section 16C.10, subdivision 2.

Subd. 3. Exception.

The requirements of subdivision 2 do not apply to contracts of the Department of Employment and Economic Development distributing state and federal funds for the purpose of subcontracting the provision of program services to eligible recipients. For these contracts, the commissioner of employment and economic development is authorized to directly enter into agency contracts and encumber available funds. For contracts distributing state or federal funds pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act, United States Code, title 29, section 2911 et seq., or section 116L.17, the commissioner of employment and economic development in consultation with the Job Skills Partnership Board is authorized to directly enter into agency contracts and encumber available funds to ensure a rapid response to the needs of dislocated workers. The commissioner of employment and economic development shall adopt internal procedures to administer and monitor funds distributed under these contracts. This exception also applies to any contracts entered into by the commissioner of education that were previously entered into by the commissioner of employment and economic development.

Subd. 4. Contract administration.

A contracting agency shall diligently administer and monitor any contract it has entered into, pursuant to a delegation of duties from the commissioner. The commissioner may require an agency to report to the commissioner at any time on the status of any contracts to which the agency is a party.

Subd. 5. Subject to audit.

A contract or any pass-through disbursement of public funds to a vendor of goods or services or a grantee made by or under the supervision of the commissioner or any county or unit of local government must include, expressed or implied, an audit clause that provides that the books, records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices of the vendor or other party, that are relevant to the contract or transaction, are subject to examination by the contracting agency and either the legislative auditor or the state auditor, as appropriate, for a minimum of six years. If the contracting agency is a local unit of government, and the governing body of the local unit of government requests that the state auditor examine the books, records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices of the vendor or other party pursuant to this subdivision, the contracting agency shall be liable for the cost of the examination. If the contracting agency is a local unit of government, and the grantee, vendor, or other party requests that the state auditor examine all books, records, documents, and accounting procedures and practices related to the contract, the grantee, vendor, or other party that requested the examination shall be liable for the cost of the examination. An agency contract made for purchase, lease, or license of software and data from the state is not required to contain this audit clause.

Subd. 6. Authority of attorney general.

The attorney general may pursue remedies available by law to avoid the obligation of an agency to pay under a contract or to recover payments made if services performed or goods received under the contract are so unsatisfactory, incomplete, or inconsistent that payment would involve unjust enrichment. The contrary opinion of the contracting agency does not affect the power of the attorney general under this subdivision.

Subd. 7. Contracts with Indian tribes and bands.

Notwithstanding any other law, an agency may not require an Indian tribe or band to deny its sovereignty as a requirement or condition of a contract with an agency.