Navigator Award Finalist: Jennifer Saha and Team, CompTIA
Engaging vendors to reverse the trend of waning procurement in many states.
This is the seventh in a series of profiles on the 50 finalists for Route Fifty’s Navigator Awards program. The first 10 finalists were from the Government Allies and Cross-Sector Partners category. Finalists 11-20 were from the Agency and Department Leadership category. Finalists 21-30 were from the Executive Leadership category. Finalists 31-40 were from the Next Generation category. Finalists 41-50 were from the Data and IT Innovators category. Explore our complete list of 50 finalists.
After Senate Bill 20 imposed new rules on Texas purchasing, the state relied on the Computing Technology Industry Association to establish a procurement committee.
An Illinois-based trade group, CompTIA launched an education campaign and recently released guidance for department chief information officers wary of speaking with vendors for fear of violating S.B. 20 regulations.
In partner states, CompTIA strives to create “a neutral, collaborative conduit between government and the technology industry,” just like with the Texas Department of Information Resources.
“Change is never easy and change in government presents unique challenges that can slow down service delivery, create confusion, and ultimately make interactions between government and the private sector challenging,” according to CompTIA’s Navigator Award application.
The nonprofit also runs three public sector councils, run by National Director Jennifer Saha, like the State and Local Government Education Council—soliciting industry input on future procurement reforms and encouraging open competition. In Texas, that meant greater online transparency surrounding requests for offers.
Procurement activity is down in many states, so engaging vendors early and often about pending legislation like CompTIA is doing has the potential to spur growth in the wake of reform.
Dave Nyczepir is a News Editor at Government Executive’s Route Fifty and is based in Washington D.C.
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