DIR Executive Director and CIO Amanda Crawford recently told the commission that the agency will need authority to add 49 full-time employees (FTE), pointing out that its 2026-27 legislative appropriations request (LAR) reflects growing responsibilities.
The human resources component is about $5 million each year and is the top exceptional request for the coming biennium, which would put the agency at more than 300 staffers. There are 267 now, Crawford said.
For DIR, potential changes impacting vendors include improving customer communication regarding eligibility requirements, ramping up reviews of cooperative contract compliance, asking for more pricing updates from vendors and enabling more public-sector cybersecurity assessments.
Three offices make up about 70 percent of the FTE request: the Chief Procurement Office, the Chief Operations Office and the Chief Information Security Office.
According to budget documents, needs include:
- Expanding technology procurement support
- Creating state IT procurement training and certification
- Continuing support for state, local and education (SLED) entities who use DIR contracts
- Providing additional compliance and oversight
- Providing cybersecurity across the state, an ever-growing concern
- Sharing cybersecurity best practices, disseminating information and providing training
Members also recommend oversight, statute and managerial changes, the last of which don’t need legal authority. Crawford said her agency is already initiating recommendations and is available to collaborate with lawmakers on how to implement moves needing legislative authority.
Sunset documentation and research is available at its website.
