CDT Issues New Technology Letter on GenAI Updates

The California Department of Technology (CDT) announced updates to its generative AI (GenAI) directives, policies and guidelines for IT, non-IT and telecommunications in a technology letter issued Monday.

The letter outlines “minor edits” to the Statewide Information Management Manual (SIMM) 71A and B; new language in the State of CA Generative AI Toolkit for Procurement, Use, and Training; and a new name for the Standard Form 1000.

Regarding the changes to the SIMM 71B Certification of Compliance with IT Policies template, the letter outlines that a new “not applicable” option has been added for “cases where procurement is not required.”

The revision to the State of CA Generative AI Toolkit for Procurement, Use, and Training, meanwhile, includes new contract language, updated solicitation language, a clarification adding that all GenAI procurements must include a GenAI Risk Assessment (SIMM 5305-F) regardless of risk level, and a new process to submit forms to CDT and/or begin a consultation.

And lastly, the Standard Form 1000, which allows vendors to identify cases of GenAI technology within their solutions, has been renamed as the “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Reporting and Factsheet,” and submission requirements have been changed.

Late last month, CDT held a vendor forum on the importance of and process behind the new form as officials move to better understand cases of GenAI within state agencies. Within that session, officials with CDT and the Department of General Services clarified that the form would not be used to disqualify vendors from procurements.

Questions about GenAI can be directed to CDT’s Gen AI Intake Team, while questions about GenAI procurement can be directed to the agency’s Statewide Technology Procurement (STP) team.