Virginia Law

Article 2. Division of Project Management.

There is established within VITA a Division of Project Management (the Division). The CIO and the Division shall exercise the powers and duties conferred in this article.

2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2016, c. 296.

A. The CIO shall have the following duties related to the management of information technology projects:

1. Develop policies, standards, and guidelines that require the Division to review and recommend to the CIO Commonwealth information technology projects proposed by executive branch agencies. Such policies, standards, and guidelines shall include in the review an assessment of the (i) degree to which the project is consistent with the Commonwealth's overall strategic plan; (ii) technical feasibility of the project; (iii) benefits to the Commonwealth of the project, including customer service improvements; (iv) risks associated with the project; (v) continued funding requirements; and (vi) past performance by the executive branch agency on other projects.

2. Develop a Commonwealth Project Management Standard for information technology projects by executive branch agencies that establishes a methodology for the initiation, planning, execution, and closeout of information technology projects and related procurements. Such methodology shall include the establishment of appropriate oversight for information technology projects. The basis for the governance and oversight of information technology projects shall include, but not be limited to, an assessment of the project's risk and complexity. The Commonwealth Project Management Standard shall require that all such projects conform to the Commonwealth strategic plan for information technology developed and approved pursuant to subdivision A 3 of § 2.2-2007.1 and the strategic plans of agencies developed and approved pursuant to § 2.2-2014. All executive branch agencies shall conform to the requirements of the Commonwealth Project Management Standard.

3. Establish minimum qualifications and training standards for project managers.

4. Establish an information clearinghouse that identifies best practices and new developments and contains detailed information regarding the Commonwealth's previous experiences with the development of major information technology projects.

5. Review and approve or disapprove the selection or termination of any Commonwealth information technology project. The CIO shall disapprove any executive branch agency request to initiate a major information technology project or related procurement if funding for such project has not been included in the budget bill in accordance with § 2.2-1509.3, unless the Governor has determined that an emergency exists and a major information technology project is necessary to address the emergency. The CIO shall disapprove any Commonwealth information technology projects that do not conform to the Commonwealth strategic plan for information technology developed and approved pursuant to subdivision A 3 of § 2.2-2007.1 or to the strategic plan of executive branch agencies developed and approved pursuant to § 2.2-2014.

6. Establish Internal Agency Oversight Committees and Secretariat Oversight Committees as necessary and in accordance with § 2.2-2021.

B. The CIO may direct the modification, termination, or suspension of any Commonwealth information technology project that, as the result of a periodic review authorized by subdivision A 5 of § 2.2-2007, has not met the performance measures agreed to by the CIO and sponsoring executive branch agency, or if he otherwise deems such action appropriate and consistent with the terms of any affected contracts.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to supersede the responsibility of a governing board for the management and operation of a public institution of higher education.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to research projects, research initiatives, or instructional programs at public institutions of higher education. However, technology investments in research projects, research initiatives, or instructional programs at such institutions estimated to cost $1 million or more of general fund appropriations may be reviewed as provided in subdivision A 5 of § 2.2-2007. The CIO and the Secretary of Education, in consultation with public institutions of higher education, shall develop and provide to such institution criteria to be used in determining whether projects are mission-critical.

2016, c. 296.

The Division shall have the power and duty to:

1. Implement the approval process for information technology projects developed in accordance with the Commonwealth Project Management Standard;

2. Assist the CIO in the development and implementation of project management policies, standards, and guidelines to be used for information technology projects in accordance with this article;

3. Provide ongoing assistance and support to executive branch agencies in the development of information technology projects;

4. Establish a program providing cost-effective training to executive branch agency project managers;

5. Review information management and information technology plans submitted by executive branch agencies and recommend to the CIO the approval of such plans and any amendments thereto;

6. Monitor the implementation of information management and information technology plans and periodically report its findings to the CIO;

7. Review and recommend to the CIO information technology projects based on the policies, standards, and guidelines developed pursuant to § 2.2-2016.1;

8. Provide oversight for executive branch agency information technology projects; and

9. Report on a quarterly basis to the CIO, the Secretary, the Governor, the Information Technology Advisory Council, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the Auditor of Public Accounts, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science the status and performance of each major information technology project and related procurement conducted by any executive branch agency.

2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2011, c. 739; 2015, c. 768; 2016, c. 296.

Repealed by Acts 2011, c. 739, cl. 2.

A. Executive branch agencies shall obtain CIO approval prior to the initiation of any Commonwealth information technology project or procurement. When selecting an information technology investment, executive branch agencies and public institutions of higher education shall submit to the Division an investment business case, outlining the business value of the investment, the proposed technology solution, if known, and an explanation of how the project will support the agency strategic plan, the agency's secretariat's strategic plan, and the Commonwealth strategic plan for information technology developed and approved pursuant to subdivision A 3 of § 2.2-2007.1. The Division may require the submission of additional information if needed to adequately review any such proposal.

B. The Division shall review each investment business case submitted in accordance with this section and recommend its approval or rejection to the CIO pursuant to the policies and procedures developed in § 2.2-2016.1.

C. In accordance with policies and standards outlined in the Commonwealth Project Management Standard, the CIO shall review the business case for any Commonwealth information technology project or procurement and approve or disapprove.

2011, c. 739; 2015, c. 768; 2016, c. 296.

Repealed by Acts 2011, c. 739, cl. 2.

An executive branch agency shall submit a copy of any Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) for a procurement related to an information technology project to the Division. The Division shall review the IFB or RFP and recommend its approval or rejection to the CIO. The agency shall submit a copy of any proposed contract or final contract to the Division. The Division shall review the proposed contract or final contract and recommend its approval or rejection to the CIO. A project shall be granted project initiation approval as provided by the Commonwealth Project Management Standard before the award of any contract.

2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2010, cc. 136, 145; 2011, c. 739; 2016, c. 296.

A. Whenever the project charter has been approved for an enterprise information technology project, the Secretary shall establish an Internal Agency Oversight Committee (IAOC) and a Secretariat Oversight Committee (SOC). The IAOC shall represent all business or functional stakeholders of the project, including stakeholders in other agencies, assure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to work together toward a mutually beneficial integrated solution, have the authority to approve or reject any changes in the project's scope, schedule, or budget, provide oversight and direction to the project, and review and approve the schedule baseline and all project documentation. The SOC shall represent all business or functional stakeholders of the project, including stakeholders in other secretariats, validate the proposed project business case, review and make recommendations on changes in the project's scope, schedule, or budget, and review Independent Verification and Validation reports and recommend corrective actions if needed.

B. For all other projects, other than enterprise information technology projects, the CIO shall establish an IAOC and an SOC in accordance with the Commonwealth Project Management Standard.

2003, cc. 981, 1021; 2010, cc. 136, 145; 2011, c. 739; 2015, c. 768; 2016, c. 296.