SECTION 245.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller may enter into contracts with private vendors to identify and pursue cost avoidance opportunities for programs of the commonwealth and to enter into interdepartmental service agreements with state agencies, as applicable, for said purpose. Payments to private vendors on account of such cost avoidance projects shall be made only from such actual cost savings as have been certified in writing to the house and senate committees on ways and means by the comptroller and the secretary of administration and finance as attributable to such cost avoidance projects. The comptroller may establish such procedures, in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance and the affected departments, as he deems appropriate and necessary to accomplish the purpose of this section. The secretary of administration and finance shall report on a quarterly basis to the house and senate committees on ways and means the status of all cost avoidance projects that are undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this section. The comptroller shall report on said projects as a part of his annual report pursuant to section 12 of chapter 7A of the General Laws.
