75-7209. Information technology projects; procedures. (a) Whenever an agency proposes an information technology project, such agency shall prepare and submit to the chief information technology officer of the branch of state government of which the agency is a part of a project budget estimate therefor, and for each amendment or revision thereof, in accordance with this section. Each information technology project budget estimate shall be in such form as required by the director of the budget, in consultation with the chief information technology architect, and by this section. In each case, the agency shall prepare and include as a part of such project budget estimate a plan consisting of a written program statement describing the project. The program statement shall:

(1) Include a detailed description of and justification for the project, including: (A) An analysis of the programs, activities and other needs and intended uses for the additional or improved information technology; (B) a statement of project scope including identification of the organizations and individuals to be affected by the project and a definition of the functionality to result from the project; and (C) an analysis of the alternative means by which such information technology needs and uses could be satisfied;

(2) describe the tasks and schedule for the project and for each phase of the project, if the project is to be completed in more than one phase;

(3) include a financial plan showing: (A) The proposed source of funding and categorized expenditures for each phase of the project; and (B) cost estimates for any needs analyses or other investigations, consulting or other professional services, computer programs, data, equipment, buildings or major repairs or improvements to buildings and other items or services necessary for the project; and

(4) include a cost-benefit statement based on an analysis of qualitative as well as financial benefits.

(b) (1) Before one or more state agencies proposing an information technology project begin implementation of the project, the project plan, including the architecture and the cost-benefit analysis, shall be approved by the head of each state agency proposing the project and by the chief information technology officer of each branch of state government of which the agency or agencies are a part. Approval of those projects that involve telecommunications services shall also be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4709, 75-4710 and 75-4712, and amendments thereto.

(2) All specifications for bids or proposals related to an approved information technology project of one or more state agencies shall be reviewed by the chief information technology officer of each branch of state government of which the agency or agencies are a part.

(3) (A) Agencies are prohibited from contracting with a vendor to implement the project if that vendor prepared or assisted in the preparation of the program statement required under subsection (a), the project planning documents required under subsection (b)(1), or any other project plans prepared prior to the project being approved by the chief information technology officer as required under subsection (b)(1).

(B) Information technology projects with an estimated cumulative cost of less than $5,000,000 are exempted from the provisions of subparagraph (A).

(C) The provisions of subparagraph (A) may be waived with prior written permission from the chief information technology officer.

(c) Annually at the time specified by the chief information technology officer of the branch of state government of which the agency is a part, each agency shall submit to such officer:

(1) A copy of a three-year strategic information technology plan that sets forth the agency's current and future information technology needs and utilization plans for the next three ensuing fiscal years, in such form and containing such additional information as prescribed by the chief information technology officer; and

(2) any deviations from the state information technology architecture adopted by the information technology executive council.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the information network of Kansas (INK).

History: L. 1998, ch. 182, § 9; L. 2018, ch. 89, § 39; May 24.