36 MAC Pt. 2, R. 208.1
015-010 Procurement Limits Policies: State Agencies
Cite as 36 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, R. 208.1
015-010 Procurement Limits Policies: State Agencies
Procedures for the Acquisition of Information Technology Equipment, Software, and
Services by Procurement Type and Total Lifecycle Cost for State Agencies
By law, all acquisitions of information technology must be approved by ITS. ITS has delegated
this responsibility to agencies for certain types of purchases and lifecycle cost limits. Note that
these thresholds are based upon total lifecycle costs and that there are situations in which actual
monies paid is not the sole determinant of the requirement for a competitive procurement
process. For purchases in which (1) the value of the goods and services exceeds bid limit, (2)
there is a competitive market, and (3) there is potential for vendor profit from the project, contracts
must be awarded based on an open and competitive process that allows the state to compare
offerings to obtain the best product, service, and value, regardless of monies paid directly to the
vendor by the state entity. The competitive process ensures the state’s requirements are well-
defined, project contracts are negotiated to protect the state’s interest, and the vendor selected is
the one with the most advantageous combination of cost and services.
The table below defines the procedures and the required approvals for each category and project
lifecycle cost range. For current Director Approval thresholds, see Section 018-030.
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Regular Competitive
Procurement
• Delegated to
Agency
• May purchase
without advertising
or otherwise
requesting
competitive bids
• Delegated to
Agency
• May purchase
without
advertisement for
bids, provided at
least two
competitive written
bids have been
obtained
• You must select
the lowest quote
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Advertisement &
receipt of
competitive bids
required by law
• Requires ITS
Board approval
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Advertisement &
receipt of
competitive bids
required by law
• Requires Business
Case
• Requires IT
Security Risk
Assessment
Cooperative
Purchasing
Agreement
No delegation.
Regardless of
lifecycle cost, ITS
statute and policy
require ITS review
and approval of all
cooperative
purchases of
technology.
No delegation.
Regardless of
lifecycle cost, ITS
statute and policy
require ITS review
and approval of all
cooperative
purchases of
technology.
No delegation.
Regardless of
lifecycle cost, ITS
statute and policy
require ITS review
and approval of all
cooperative
purchases of
technology.
No delegation.
Regardless of
lifecycle cost, ITS
statute and policy
require ITS review
and approval of all
cooperative
purchases of
technology.
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Telecommunications
Systems and
Services
(See Acquisition of
Telecommunications
Services by State
Agencies for more
information)
No delegation.
ITS has conducted
these procurements
on behalf of the state
and has contracts in
place that must be
used by agencies for
telecommunications
systems and services
(voice and data).
See ITS
Telecommunications
Contracts for State
Agencies for details.
No delegation.
ITS has conducted
these procurements
on behalf of the state
and has contracts in
place that must be
used by agencies for
telecommunications
systems and services
(voice and data).
See ITS
Telecommunications
Contracts for State
Agencies for details.
No delegation.
ITS has conducted
these procurements
on behalf of the state
and has contracts in
place that must be
used by agencies for
telecommunications
systems and services
(voice and data).
See ITS
Telecommunications
Contracts for State
Agencies for details.
No delegation.
ITS has conducted
these procurements
on behalf of the state
and has contracts in
place that must be
used by agencies for
telecommunications
systems and services
(voice and data).
See ITS
Telecommunications
Contracts for State
Agencies for details.
Note: ITS contracts
have already
received Board
approval. Agency
acquisitions of
services from these
contracts do not
require additional
Board action.
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Sole Source
Procurement
• Delegated to
Agency
• May purchase
without advertising
or otherwise
requesting
competitive bids
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Sole
Source
Certification
Request with
vendor and agency
documentation to
ITS 3-5 weeks
before purchase
(Note: Agency Head
or Designee must
sign the sole source
request)
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Sole
Source
Certification
Request with
vendor and agency
documentation to
ITS 3-5 weeks
before purchase
(Note: Agency Head
or Designee must
sign the sole source
request)
• Requires ITS
Board approval
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Sole
Source
Certification
Request with
vendor and agency
documentation to
ITS 2-4 months
before purchase
• Requires Business
Case
• Requires IT
Security Risk
Assessment
(Note: Agency Head
or Designee must
sign the sole source
request)
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Exemption from ITS Not applicable:
Already delegated to
agency
Not applicable:
Already delegated to
agency
(Note: ITS cannot
exempt a sole source
procurement >
$5,000)
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Advertisement &
receipt of
competitive bids
required by law
(conducted by the
Agency after
exemption is
approved by ITS)
• Submit Exemption
Request to ITS 2-4
weeks prior to
advertising the
procurement
• Requires ITS
Board approval
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Advertisement &
receipt of
competitive bids
required by law
(conducted by the
Agency after
exemption is
approved by ITS)
• Submit Exemption
Request to ITS 4-6
weeks prior to
advertising the
procurement
• Requires Business
Case
• Requires IT
Security Risk
Assessment
Express Products
Lists (EPLs)
• Delegated to
Agency
• Access EPL on
ITS website
• Follow instructions
on specific EPL
• Delegated to
Agency
• Access EPL on
ITS website
• Follow instructions
on specific EPL
• Delegated to
Agency up to EPL
limit
• Access EPL on
ITS website
• Follow instructions
on specific EPL
• See EPL Planned
Purchase
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
EPL Planned
Purchase
Not applicable
Not applicable
Purchase above EPL
limit:
• Requires approval
letter from ITS
Executive Director
and CP-1
• Requires that
project be in
current IT Plan
submitted by
agency to ITS &
equipment
/software needed
must appear on a
current EPL
• ITS planner
contacts agency
concerning
Planned Purchases
during review of
agency's plan. Call
your planner or
submit an EPL
Planned Purchase
Request to ITS to
initiate a Planned
Purchase prior to
being contacted.
Requires ITS Board
approval
• Requires approval
letter from ITS
Executive Director
and CP-1
• Requires that
project be in
current IT Plan
submitted by
agency to ITS &
equipment
/software needed
must appear on a
current EPL
• ITS planner
contacts agency
concerning
Planned Purchases
during review of
agency's plan. Call
your planner or
submit an EPL
Planned Purchase
Request to initiate
a Planned Purchase
prior to being
contacted (at least
2 weeks prior to
ITS Board
Meeting).
• Requires Business
Case
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Emergency
Procurement
(where delay is
detrimental to the
interests of the State)
Not applicable
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Emergency
Purchase Request
Form with vendor
and agency
documentation to
ITS before
purchase
• (Note: Agency
Head or Designee,
if approved by ITS,
must sign the
Emergency
Purchase Request
Form)
• If request
approved, submit
post-purchase
documentation
following the
purchase
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Emergency
Purchase Request
Form with vendor
and agency
documentation to
ITS before
purchase
• (Note: Agency
Head or Designee,
if approved by ITS,
must sign the
Emergency
Purchase Request
Form)
• If request
approved, submit
post-purchase
documentation
following the
purchase
• Requires ITS
Board approval
• Requires ITS
approval: CP-1 in
MAGIC
• Submit Emergency
Purchase Request
Form with vendor
and agency
documentation to
ITS before
purchase
• (Note: Agency
Head or Designee,
if approved by ITS,
must sign the
Emergency
Purchase Request
Form)
• Requires Business
Case
• Requires IT
Security Risk
Assessment
• If request
approved, submit
post-purchase
documentation
following the
purchase
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
Emergency
Procurement
(where delay threatens
health or safety of any
person or preservation
or protection of
property)
Not applicable
• Submit to ITS the
Emergency
Purchase Form
signed by the
Agency Head or
Designee, if
approved by ITS,
along with the
post-purchase
documentation as
soon as practicable
after the
emergency
purchase
• Submit to ITS the
Emergency
Purchase Form
signed by the
Agency Head or
Designee, if
approved by ITS,
along with the
post-purchase
documentation as
soon as practicable
after the
emergency
purchase
• ITS loads a CP-1
to MAGIC so the
vendor payment
can be processed
• Submit to ITS the
Emergency
Purchase Form
signed by the
Agency Head or
Designee, if
approved by ITS,
along with the
post-purchase
documentation as
soon as practicable
after the
emergency
purchase
• ITS loads a CP-1
to MAGIC so the
vendor payment
can be processed
• ITS Board
informed of
emergency
Procurement
Type/Lifecycle Cost
$.01 - $5,000.00
$5,000.01 - up to
but not over the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c)
In excess of the
dollar amount
established in
Section 31-7-13(c),
up to Director
Approval Threshold
Above Director
Approval Threshold
E-Government
Procurement
NOTE: Due to the
different vendor
business models for
E-Government
services and products,
the procurement
approach is not
governed by the total
expenditure but by the
true market value, as
determined by the
complexity and size
of the project. See
Sections 001-020 and
001-025 of this
handbook for
additional information
on Electronic
Government
procurements.
• Cost category must
be based on true
market value, not
funds paid to
vendor by agency
• Requires DFA
approval for any
payment
functionality
• Follow process
outlined in 001-
025 Approvals for
Internet-based
Applications and
Services
• Cost category must
be based on true
market value, not
funds paid to
vendor by agency
• Requires DFA
approval for any
payment
functionality
• Follow process
outlined in 001-
025 Approvals for
Internet-based
Applications and
Services
• Cost category must
be based on true
market value, not
funds paid to
vendor by agency
• Requires DFA
approval for any
payment
functionality
• Follow process
outlined in 001-
025 Approvals for
Internet-based
Applications and
Services
• Cost category must
be based on true
market value, not
funds paid to
vendor by agency
• Requires DFA
approval for any
payment
functionality
• Requires ITS
Board approval if
true market value
exceeds Director
Approval
Threshold
• Follow process
outlined in 001-
025 Approvals for
Internet-based
Applications and
Services
• Requires Business
Case
• Requires IT
Security Risk
Assessment