STATE OF CONNECTICUT

BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 3

whereas, the state government contracting process and procedures must be open, honest fair and accessible at all times; and

whereas, a growing demand for information in electronic form and for direct access to electronic records is changing the way the public accesses government information and documents; and

whereas, making state bids and contracts easily available to the public and vendor community at all times in a single electronic location will increase the ease in which information is exchanged; and

whereas, a single location for information regarding the purchase of goods and services will provide for more accurate and less cumbersome auditing practices and procedures; and

whereas, a single portal for procurement information will increase transparency of the procurement process; and

whereas, a single location for information regarding the purchase of goods and services will increase interest in vendors in submitting competitive bids; and

whereas, an increased interest by vendors and an increased transparency of the procurement process will result in greater and more active participation in the state contracting process by small businesses and women and minority owned enterprises; and

whereas, a single location for such information will facilitate the communication of changes and amendments to state contracts; and

whereas, a single portal for procurement information will reduce postage and paper expenses, internal staffing time and advertising costs to the extent permitted by state law and as reasonably practicable and will increase the efficiency of the procurement process.

now, therefore, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, acting by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the statutes of this state, do hereby order and direct that:

(1)   The Department of Administrative Services shall establish and maintain a single electronic portal available on the World Wide Web and located on the Department of Administrative Services’ website (the “State Contracting Portal”) for purposes of posting all contracting opportunities with state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions. 

(2)  The State Contracting Portal shall, among other things, include: (i) all bids, requests for proposals, related materials and all resulting contracts and agreements by state agencies; (ii) a searchable database for locating information; (iii) A State Procurement & Contract Manual or other similar information designated by the Department of Administrative Services as describing approved contracting processes and procedures; and (iv) prominent features to encourage the active recruitment and participation of small businesses and women and minority owned enterprises in the State contracting process.

(3)  All state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions shall post all bids, requests for proposals and all resulting contracts and agreements on the State Contracting Portal and shall, with the assistance of the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Information Technology as needed, develop the infrastructure and capability to electronically communicate with the State Contracting Portal.

(4)  All state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions shall develop written policies and procedures to ensure that information posted to the State Contracting Portal is done in a timely, complete and accurate manner consistent with the highest legal and ethical standards of state government.

(5)    The Department of Administrative Services shall periodically report to the Office of the Governor on the progress of all state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions in developing the capacity, infrastructure, policies and procedures to electronically communicate with the State Contracting Portal as well as the Department of Administrative Services’ progress toward establishment and maintenance of the State Contracting Portal. 

(6)  This order shall be effective upon signing.

Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 15th day of December, 2004.

                                                            M. JODI RELL

                                                            Governor