Procurement & Vendor Services

The photos in this section are examples of the diverse IT products that OIT procures and services it provides

Procurement and Vendor Services manages the acquisition of goods and vendor services for OIT to meet the intent of C.R.S. §24-37.5-101 through 803. We work with vendors to understand the state bidding requirements, establish contracts and OIT Enterprise Agreements, develop service level agreements, and set policies and procedures for purchasing, contracting and managing vendor performance and contract compliance for information technology (IT) for Colorado's executive branch agencies. Our role includes maximizing the effectiveness of the State's significant information technology investments.

The responsibilities of the Procurement and Vendor Services teams are separated out as follows:
  • Purchasing: Conducts introductory meetings and discussions with vendors; reviews and assists with drafting solicitation specifications and statements of work (SOW); and is involved in the OIT project gating meetings, ensuring that agency purchasing offices are informed; and transitions the awarded vendor to the Contracts & Compliance team. 
  • Contracts & Compliance: Manages the complete life cycle of contracts; provides central authority for statewide IT and OIT non-IT contracting needs like the final SOW, template clauses, terms and conditions; negotiations and contract analysis; compliance; evaluation and reporting of executed contracts; and manages vendor issues and provides a centralized tracking and reporting of vendor performance.
For a visual representation of the OIT Procurement Process, including the three Procurement Pillars (Sourcing, Encumbrance and Contract/Purchase Order) and these teams and related activities, click here.

OIT is charged with coordinating the effort to consolidate IT procurements and has been statutorily directed to:
  • Initiate or approve all procurements of IT resources for state agencies and enter into any agreement or contract in connection with such a procurement on behalf of a state agency or agencies
  • Coordinate with and provide assistance, advice, and expertise in connection with business relationships between state agencies and private sector providers of information technology resources
  • Aggregate information technology procurements for one or more state agencies.
http://oit.state.co.us/financial/procurement/news

Thirza Kennedy
Director, Procurement & Vendor Services

Procurement and Vendor Services is led by Thirza Kennedy. Thirza has worked for OIT since 2008. Previous to her role at OIT, she was the Procurement Program Manager for the State Purchasing Office within the Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA); a purchasing agent/contract administrator for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE); and the Administrative Services Manager at the Colorado Governor’s Job Training Office.

OIT Vendor Assistance Form

Contact Procurement and Vendor Services using this online form.