36 Miss. Code. R. 2-7-207.5
ITS statute, Mississippi Code Section 25-53-111, requires that ITS:
* Establish and coordinate through either state ownership or commercial leasing, all telecommunications systems and services affecting the management and operations of the state
* Act as the sole centralized customer for the acquisition, billing and record keeping of all telecommunications systems or services provided to state institutions whether obtained through lease or purchase
* Charge the respective user institutions for their proportional cost of the installation, maintenance and operation of the telecommunications systems and services
* Approve or provide state telephone services on a reimbursable basis to full-time students at state institutions of higher learning, including where such services are provided by the state or the institution
To fulfill this statutory mandate, ITS issues Requests for Proposals to obtain the lowest and best provider of local and long distance voice access services and of data communications services. The resulting contracts are for the use of ITS in furnishing these services to all state agencies and institutions of higher learning. The contracts aggregate all telecommunications traffic into one account with ITS as the sole customer on behalf of the state, as required in the above statute. This aggregation allows ITS to get the best possible pricing for the state as a whole; to better manage telecommunications facilities within the state; and to have an accurate inventory of all telecommunications services within state government. See ITS Telecommunications Contracts and Services for IHLs for a list of products and services within the scope of this policy.
As an ITS telecommunications customer, an IHL receives the following "value-add" services:
* Contractual terms and conditions negotiated and enforced by ITS on behalf of the state
* Renegotiation for lower pricing at set intervals throughout the life of each contract
* Uniform service and cost to all areas of the state
* Statewide authorization codes for long distance
* Capacity planning
* Telecommunications Express Products Lists (2-way radios, E-911)
* Master Cellular Contract
To request additional information or to order services, contact TelecomRequest@its.ms.gov. 25-53-111
36 Miss. Code. R. 2-7-207.5