SANTA FE, NM – Today, New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller announced that the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is conducting a statewide procurement study. The State Auditor selected multiple agencies for the special audit due to their roles in procurement oversight: the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), the General Services Department (GSD) and the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). The study will focus on a variety of aspects of state purchasing such as sole-source purchases, emergency purchases, bid-tailoring, and in-state business, small business and veteran’s preferences.
“Fairness and efficiency in state procurement is a cornerstone of good government, it is the critical intersection of rooting out misuse of taxpayer dollars, cutting red tape, supporting local job creation and providing essential services to New Mexicans at the best value,” said State Auditor Tim Keller. “Our special audit will take a comprehensive look into the state’s procurement process, including areas where loopholes may be prevalent and where red tape holds back job creation.”
The State of New Mexico purchases about $5 billion worth of goods and services with public funds each year. The agencies listed above have been designated for the special audit and the study is expected to take place this summer.
The Office of the State Auditor helps government work better by providing transparency and accountability for government spending; informing policy choices; and tackling fraud, waste and abuse. OSA is an independently elected executive agency responsible for examining the use of public dollars in New Mexico.