Department
of Finance & Administration
Office
of
Contracts Review
The Office of
Contracts Review (OCR) functions as Tennessee's central
oversight function for the state’s decentralized, professional
service contracting processes. In this
role, OCR examiners review procurement documents, manage
approval processing, collect management information, and
offer consultation to staff of all state agencies,
toward ensuring that service contracts safeguard the financial
and legal interests of taxpayers and meet statutory and
regulatory requirements.
OCR's primary role is the approval review of
professional service contracts.
F&A Commissioner approval of professional service contracts is a statutory
responsibility. OCR examiners review both procurement
proceedings and resulting contracts on behalf of the F&A
Commissioner for compliance with state laws and regulations,
good business practice, fair competition, sound financial
management, proper accounting and financial reporting, and
conformity with budgetary priorities.
Additionally, OCR examiners provide
direct technical assistance to agency-head
designated Service Contract Coordinators in all state agencies.
(Service Contract Coordinators serve as internal
experts within their respective state agency, and each is responsible for
their agency's professional service contracting and for assisting and disseminating information to appropriate agency staff.)
OCR technical
assistance includes interpretation of
regulations, consultation about maintaining fairness and equity in the selection of
contractors, and aid in writing both solicitations and contract
documents that achieve state goals and protect taxpayer interests.
OCR also supports procuring state
agency staff through the maintenance of "on-line" resources (including
links to relevant regulations and models) to guide and direct staff in
buying professional services and drafting professional service
solicitation and contract documents.
