(a) There is created a procurement office headed by the chief procurement officer in such department as the governor shall designate, after consulting with the comptroller of the treasury, which shall take effect as provided in subsection (b).

(b) Effective July 1, 2011, the governor shall appoint the chief procurement officer, who shall be a person:

(1) Qualified by training and relevant and recent experience in large scale public procurement of goods and services, establishment of contracts, contract oversight, providing training and contract administration, and demonstrated executive and organizational ability to perform the duties of this office; and

(2) Qualified by training or relevant and recent experience in administering programs to encourage and enhance economic opportunities for small businesses and minority-owned businesses.

(c) The chief procurement officer shall be a full-time public official of the state as an executive service employee appointed by the governor to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

(d)

(1) Necessary personnel in the department of general services involved in the procurement of goods and necessary personnel in the department of finance and administration involved in the procurement of services, as required by the procurement officer, shall be transferred to the procurement office together with the funding for the compensation and benefits for such personnel.

(2) The chief procurement officer is authorized to employ such additional personnel as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, upon the approval of the governor.

(3) The compensation of employees of the procurement office shall be fixed by the governor.

(e)

(1) All contracts and contract rights and responsibilities, and renewals for such contracts, in existence with the department of general services and the department of finance and administration with respect to the duties transferred by this section shall be preserved and transferred to the procurement office.

(2) Any bidding procedure or negotiations concerning any such procedure which is in the process but not complete shall continue under the purview of the procurement officer.

(3) All documents, books, records, papers or other writings in the possession of the department of general services and the department of finance and administration with respect to the duties transferred by this section shall be transferred to and remain in the custody of the procurement office.

(4) Any rules, regulations, orders, decisions and policies formerly issued or promulgated by the departments of finance and administration or general services whose functions have been transferred under this section to the procurement office shall remain in full force and effect and shall hereafter be administered and enforced by the procurement officer. The commission shall have the authority, consistent with the statutes and regulations pertaining to the programs and functions transferred herein, to modify or rescind orders, rules and regulations, decisions or policies formerly issued and to adopt, issue or promulgate new orders, rules and regulations, decisions or policies as may be necessary for the administration of the programs or functions herein transferred.

(f) Subject to this chapter and other procurement laws under the jurisdiction of the chief procurement office, the chief procurement officer may adopt operational procedures governing the internal functions of the procurement office.