In signing a $50 million contract for a new cloud-based computer system, the state of Iowa sidestepped traditional competitive bidding procedures and chose a company with little state government experience whose lobbyist is Gov. Kim Reynolds’ former chief of staff, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Iowa is one of the first state governments to hire California-based Workday to provide administrative software for major functions, including payroll, expenses, inventory, financials, recruiting and grant management. Previous Workday implementations at Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Transportation are still not complete after rollout delays, and some lawmakers are concerned the state chose Workday without seeking multiple proposals from companies to determine which was the most affordable and relevant to the state’s needs.