260:115-5-3. Certified Procurement Officers (CPO)

Duties.

A CPO shall provide assistance and oversight to a state agency to ensure acquisition processes meet the requirements of the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, applicable rules, other statutory provisions and the state agency's internal purchasing procedures.

Decertification.

The State Purchasing Director may require retraining of, suspend and/or revoke certification of a CPO if the State Purchasing Director reasonably believes the CPO did not make state agency acquisitions pursuant to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act, applicable rules, other statutory provisions, or the state agency's internal purchasing procedures.

Continuing education.

To maintain certification, a CPO shall attend continuing education as required by the State Purchasing Director. Continuing education courses must be related to procurement practices and approved in advance for CPO education credit by the State Purchasing Director. The State Purchasing Director shall establish a policy relating to how often courses may be repeated to qualify for continuing education credit.

A CPO shall submit required documentation verifying continuing education course attendance to the State Purchasing Director. The burden of proof rests solely upon the CPO to demonstrate, in advance of taking a course and to the satisfaction of the State Purchasing Director, that all continuing education courses reported meet all of the requirements as to content and subject matter related to procurement practices.
A CPO may claim continuing education credit only for the compliance period in which the course was completed and credit granted.
Failure by a CPO to complete required continuing education within the allowed time period will result in suspension of the CPO's purchasing authority.
A suspended CPO must repeat the CPO certification course and demonstrate proficiency in procurement practices by passing the CPO prescribed certification examination in order to be reinstated and restore purchasing authority. State Purchasing Director approval is required prior to a suspended CPO repeating the CPO certification course.
In the event of extenuating circumstances, a CPO may submit a written request to the State Purchasing Director for reinstatement and an extension of time to allow the CPO to fulfill required continuing education credits. The State Purchasing Director may approve the request for a reinstatement period not to exceed three (3) months to provide time to fulfill education credits.

Change in status.

A CPO or the state agency employing such CPO shall immediately notify the State Purchasing Director when the CPO:

is no longer performing as a CPO;
transfers to another state agency; or
terminate employment with the state.