Overview
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) is the state's central IT agency — it sets statewide technology policy, owns the procurement vehicles most Texas public entities buy through, and delivers shared services (data center, cloud, network, security). DIR is best understood as the conduit for Texas public-sector technology rather than a large end spender: the DIR Cooperative Contracts program drove more than $3.4B in customer purchases over the last three fiscal years, and eligible state agencies, local governments, K-12, and higher-ed can buy off those pre-competed contracts without running their own RFP.
DIR also operates Shared Technology Services (STS) — consolidated data-center and cloud capacity — and enforces TX-RAMP, the cloud-security certification gate.
One structural change is in motion: cybersecurity functions are migrating out of DIR into the new Texas Cyber Command, a transition slated to complete by December 31, 2026.
- DIR itself is a modest direct spender — the real motion is selling through DIR's Cooperative Contracts and Shared Technology Services (STS) to the entire Texas public sector.
- Chief Procurement Officer Lisa Massock owns Cooperative Contracts, RFOs, and vendor onboarding — the gate onto the co-op.
- Funding is cost-recovery on vehicles and shared services rather than a large GR line; State CIO Tony Sauerhoff sets statewide technology direction.
- Approval gate: TX-RAMP certification for any cloud / as-a-service offering — clear it before pursuing state deals; cyber programs are migrating to Texas Cyber Command by end of 2026.
- Fastest vehicle: DIR Cooperative Contracts (pre-competed, no separate RFP); STS is the route for consolidated infrastructure and managed services.
Where Dell Can Play
- Confirm Dell's DIR Cooperative Contract coverage and reseller scope — it's the access path to the entire Texas public sector, not just DIR itself.
- Lead with AI-infrastructure and ISG through STS and the co-op, tied to the statewide data-center and semiconductor buildout.
- Clear TX-RAMP early for any cloud / as-a-service play that touches state data.
- Track the DIR → Texas Cyber Command security migration and build the relationship with the new buying center in San Antonio.
Budget & Fiscal
DIR isn't a large direct spender — its leverage shows up as the volume flowing through its vehicles rather than its own appropriation. The state's 2026–27 biennial budget is $337.4B (largest in Texas history), and DIR's Cooperative Contracts program moved $3.4B+ in customer purchases over the last three fiscal years.
- DIR funds much of its delivery through cost recovery on its vehicles and shared services, not a large general-revenue line.
- The largest agency IT budgets (HHSC, TxDOT, etc.) sit with those agencies — DIR is the path, not the wallet.
Initiatives & Priorities
DIR's cybersecurity operations are migrating to the new standalone Texas Cyber Command (San Antonio) by Dec 31, 2026. Re-map the security buying center and confirm which entity owns a given program before forecasting.
Cybersecurity TransitionDIR continues to run and tighten TX-RAMP. Cloud / as-a-service offerings need the right certification level to be sellable to state entities — a gate to clear early.
Cloud ComplianceConsolidated data-center and cloud services are an ongoing modernization track — infrastructure refresh, hybrid cloud, and managed services across participating agencies.
Data Center ModernizationProcurement
Selling to or through DIR runs on pre-competed vehicles, not one-off RFPs. Two things to confirm first: that Dell's DIR Cooperative Contracts are active and correctly scoped, and that any cloud / as-a-service offering holds the right TX-RAMP level.
| Vehicle / gate | What it means for Dell |
|---|---|
| DIR Cooperative Contracts | The primary vehicle — pre-competed and open to state agencies, local gov, K-12, and higher-ed. $3.4B+ in purchases over the last three FYs. |
| Shared Technology Services (STS) | DIR-delivered data-center, cloud, and managed services for participating agencies — a route for infrastructure and as-a-service. |
| TX-RAMP certification | Mandatory gate: agencies may only use cloud services certified at the right NIST 800-53 (Low/Moderate) level. Clear this before pursuing cloud/aaS deals. |
Spend Signals
GovSpend · as of Aug 5, 2026Dell vs. competitors (spend, payee)
Brand footprint — all channels (est.)
Higher of two conservative lenses: product-name match · manufacturer tag. Both undercount — treat as floors.
Top IT categories
Open bids / RFPs
| Solicitation | Due |
|---|---|
| RFO — Texas Agency Network Wireless, Pagers, and Satellite Services, and Related Hardware (TEX-AN-WPS) Texas Department of Information Resources | Aug 13, 2026 |
| RFO — Managed Network Services (MNS), Shared Technology Services program Texas Department of Information Resources | Sep 4, 2026 |
- DIR's own PO footprint is small relative to the $3.4B+ that flows through its Cooperative Contracts — these figures cover DIR as a direct buyer only, not co-op volume purchased by other entities.
- Payee lens (vendorSpend) counts dollars paid to each vendor; brand lens (brandFootprint/dellFootprint) uses product-name text matching across all channels and is a conservative floor.
- Window is PO issue dates Oct 2022–Sep 2025, the hub-standard calendar window; Texas state FY actually runs Sep–Aug.
- expiringContracts omitted: GovSpend lists 1,186 DIR contracts ending by Jan 2027, but they are DIR Cooperative (vendor) contracts where DIR is program owner rather than end buyer, and DIR-as-buyer contracts could not be isolated.
Power Structure
| Decision-maker | Why they matter |
|---|---|
| Tony Sauerhoff State CIO, DIR Executive Director & Chief AI & Innovation Officer | Confirmed permanent (interim since Jan 2026, board-selected/confirmed early 2026). AI-forward — retains the Chief AI & Innovation Officer hat and is GovRAMP board president. The top relationship for the DIR motion. |
| Lisa Massock DIR Chief Procurement Officer | Owns the Cooperative Contracts, RFOs, and vendor onboarding — the path onto the co-op. (Name per DIR executive bios; verify before outreach.) |
| DIR Shared Technology Services (STS) Data center / cloud / network services | Buying center for consolidated infrastructure and managed services. Now also hosts a small vendor-focused security team created during the cyber transition. |
| TX-RAMP program (DIR, transferring) Cloud-security certification gate | DIR still runs TX-RAMP (Program Manual 4.0, effective 2026) but the program's duties are slated to move to the Texas Cyber Command by Dec 31, 2026. DIR no longer lists a standalone statewide CISO — cyber ops transferred to TXCC (chief: retired Vice Adm. TJ White, San Antonio). Confirm which entity owns TX-RAMP before forecasting security deals. |
News & Signals
Sources
- Texas DIR — Cybersecurity Functions Transition to the Texas Cyber Command
- GovTech Insider — DIR Outlines Cybersecurity Transition to Texas Cyber Command (May 21, 2026)
- Texas DIR — DIR Launches Texas Design System (June 9, 2026)
- Texas DIR — Executive Biographies (leadership roster)
- Texas DIR — TX-RAMP (Program Manual 4.0, 2026)
- Texas DIR — Cooperative Contracts
- GovTech — Texas confirms Tony Sauerhoff as State CIO, DIR Leader
- Texas Cyber Command — Cybersecurity Transition (TXCC, chief TJ White)