Russ Guarna, longtime DGS executive and former assistant secretary for the Telecommunications Procurement Division within the California Technology Agency, will serve as deputy director of the newly created Statewide Technology Procurement Division. The unit is part of the Department of Technology which started today under last year’s Governor’s Reorganization Plan (GRP) that placed it under the Government Operations Agency.
As a result of AB 1498 (Buchanan), a follow-up bill related to the GRP, the organization that handled the procurement of major IT projects moved from the DGS to become part of the new division within the Department of Technology.
DGS, also under the Operations Agency, will retain the authority over commodities and leveraged procurement vehicles such as Master Service Agreements, California Multiple Award Schedules and the Western State Contracting Alliance.
Also with a new title is Director Carlos Ramos who will continue to serve as California’s CIO and remains a member of the governor’s cabinet. He will also continue to lead the offices and divisions within the Department of Technology, according to a blog post. See the department’s website for more information.
