Sec. 2054.554. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT GUIDE; RULES. (a) The department shall develop and periodically update a contract management guide to provide an overall, consistent approach on procurement and management of major outsourced contracts under Subchapter O and other contracts. In updating the guide, the department shall make changes based on contract experiences and account for changing conditions to guide the updates.

(b) The department shall coordinate with the department's internal auditor, subject to Section 2054.038(d), as needed for assistance and guidance in developing procedures in the contract management guide for monitoring contracts and individual contractors.

(c) The board may adopt rules necessary to develop or update the contract management guide.

(d) The contract management guide must provide information regarding the department's:

(1) general approach to business case analysis, procurement planning, contract solicitation, contract execution, and contract monitoring and oversight;

(2) ethics standards and policies, including those required by Section 2054.552; and

(3) approach to changing a program's internal structure or model for delivering services to customers.

(e) The contract management guide must:

(1) establish clear lines of accountability, staff roles and responsibilities, and decision-making authority for program staff, contract management staff, executive management, customers, and the board;

(2) include the procedures established under Section 2054.524 regarding customer involvement; and

(3) establish the department's process for evaluating and managing risk during each stage of contract procurement, implementation, and management.

(f) The contract management guide must describe the expectations and standards for obtaining and using customer input during all contract management phases.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 48 (H.B. 2472), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2013.