TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR CONTRACT MANAGERS.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Contract management guide" means the guide developed under Section 2262.051.

(2) "Contract manager" has the meaning assigned by Section 2262.001.

(a-1) In coordination with the Department of Information Resources, state auditor, and Health and Human Services Commission, the comptroller shall develop a training program for contract managers.

(b) The training must provide the contract manager with information regarding how to:

(1) fairly and objectively select and negotiate with the most qualified contractor;

(2) establish prices that are cost-effective and that reflect the cost of providing the service;

(3) include provisions in a contract that hold the contractor accountable for results;

(4) monitor and enforce a contract;

(5) make payments consistent with the contract;

(6) comply with any requirements or goals contained in the contract management guide;

(7) use and apply advanced sourcing strategies, techniques, and tools;

(8) maintain required documentation for contracting decisions, changes to a contract, and problems with a contract;

(9) create a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy;

(10) create a plan for potential problems with the contract;

(11) develop an accurate and comprehensive statement of work; and

(12) complete the contract and evaluate performance under the contract.

(c) Each state agency shall ensure that the agency's contract managers complete the training developed under this section.

(d) The comptroller shall administer training under this section and may assess a fee for the training in an amount sufficient to recover the comptroller's costs under this section.

(e) The comptroller shall certify contract managers who have completed the contract management training required under this section.

(f) A state agency may develop qualified contract manager training to supplement the training required under this section. The comptroller may incorporate the training developed by the agency into the training program under this section.

(g) The comptroller shall adapt the training required under this section and administer an abbreviated training program meeting the relevant training requirements under this section for state agency employees, other than contract managers, with contract management duties.

(h) This section does not apply to:

(1) an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or

(2) a contract manager whose contract management duties relate primarily to contracts described by Section 2262.002(b).