1. (a) In this section, "department" means the Department of Information Resources.

2. (b) The department and the comptroller shall establish a committee composed of essential personnel of the department and the comptroller to:

   1. (1) identify:

      1. (A) areas of overlap in the procurement functions of the department and the comptroller and methods to avoid duplication of services;
      2. (B) mutually beneficial contracting and procurement methodologies, data collection and management techniques, and customer relations management;
      3. (C) opportunities for collaboration on procurement functions that would benefit the state or other customers; and
      4. (D) opportunities for consolidation of administrative or other functions to improve customer service and reduce operating costs; and

   2. (2) develop:

      1. (A) a standardized method for the department and the comptroller to:

         1. (i) collect and analyze spending data relating to procurement contracts; and
         2. (ii) benchmark and quantitatively measure cost savings and increased administrative efficiency resulting from collaboration and cooperative purchasing; and
      2. (B) strategies that encourage coordination between the department and the comptroller relating to procurement functions.
3. (c) The committee may appoint advisory members as appropriate to assist the committee.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 48 (H.B. 2472), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2013.