Ed Grant Sworn in as President of NIGP BOD

Edmund J. Grant, CPPO, CPPB, RPPO, the Chief Financial Officer for Cape May County, NJ was ceremoniously sworn in as NIGP’s next president by the South Jersey NIGP Chapter on May 30, 2007.

Mr. Joe Valenti (photo left), the Bureau Chief for the State of New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs, administered the oath in front of the faithful chapter membership, which has known Ed (photo right), as a close, personal friend and influential leader for many years.

When Ed assumes the presidency from current NIGP President Darin Matthews on July 1, 2007, he will be responsible for the general supervision of the affairs of NIGP.  He will reside over all meetings of the Institute and serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. He will also be the chief spokesperson and key ambassador for the Institute to the public at large. 

During his term, which runs through June 30, 2008, Ed’s key priorities will be increasing customer service, promoting greater dialogue and engagement with our members, strengthening support and communications with our 75 chapter affiliates, and ensuring greatness within our educational programs. As the Institute’s top elected leader, Ed will spearhead changes and advancements to the Institute as we continue to develop, support and promote membership and recruit future leaders in the pursuit of public procurement excellence. 

Prior to his election as president, Ed served as the Institute’s Treasurer, Second Vice President, and, most recently, as First Vice President. For many years, he has played an integral part in NIGP activities, policy decisions and is a huge proponent for the advancement of the public procurement profession.

News From The Field: Jack T. Pitzer Scholarship Award

Alexandria, VA – When Jack T. Pitzer, Ph.D., CPPO, retired after more than 12 years as Director of Procurement for the City of Alexandria, his staff solicited contributions to endow the Jack T. Pitzer Career and Vocational Scholarship through the Alexandria Rotary Club Foundation as a retirement gift.

To date, nearly $10,000 has been contributed to this fund, including substantial contributions from the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, the Mississippi Association of Governmental Purchasing and Property Agents, and the Rotary Club of Alexandria.

Douglas Diaz, a recent graduate of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, was selected by a Rotary Club committee to receive the first Pitzer scholarship June 5. Diaz was recommended by school officials because of his demonstrated motivation to “turn his life around.” Diaz raised his grade point average in one year from barely passing to 3.75 while maintaining membership in the Army National Guard and working full-time after school. He plans to enroll at Northern Virginia Community College and begin studies toward a degree in law enforcement with hopes of receiving a B.A. in that discipline at George Mason University, as well as a commission in the United States Army through the ROTC program.   

         
            From left to right:  Willard Walton, Jr., CPPO, Acting Director,
  Alexandria Division of Purchasing; Belle Gentry, CPCM, Contract Administrator;
            Jack Pitzer; Ph.D., CPPO; Douglas Diaz, scholarship awardee;
                           Rosa Hernandez, and Concepcion Diaz.
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NYS/NASPO Cooperative Purchasing Contract for Homeland Security Equipment

In an effort to satisfy increasing domestic preparedness needs of both state and local governments, New York State (NYS) in conjunction with the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), created multi-state cooperative purchase contracts for Hazardous Incident Response Equipment (HIRE).   These contracts are available for use by all States (and territories), counties, and cities within the United States.

In September 2004, the New York State Office of General Services’ Procurement Services Group (OGS-PSG), on behalf of NYS, formed a Task Force consisting of several NYS and local agencies who were first responders.  The purpose of the group was to discuss their homeland security needs which enabled NYS to procure the greatest number of required disaster preparedness products.

The formation of the Task Force allowed state and local governments to collectively reduce the numerous individual procurement requests using time sensitive grant money for approved homeland security products (valued at $9 billion in allocated federal funds for fiscal year 2003-2004) and replace the current fragmented and duplicative approach through the development of a comprehensive catalog contract award containing a variety of products from numerous manufacturers.  The comprehensive catalog contract award encompasses a minimum of 13 categories of Homeland Security equipment covered by federal grants and Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program Funding.

The Task Force included the Office of Homeland Security, the Weapons of Mass Destruction Taskforce, the Cyber Security Critical Infrastructure Coordinator, the State Emergency Management Office, NYS Police, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Office for Technology and State Association of Municipal Purchasing Officials.

For the first time NYS procurement worked directly with representatives of the first responder community versus typical procurement officials and provided linkage between the needs of first responders and state procurement officials.  Additonally, by initiating this as a multi-state cooperative purchase NYS leveraged the additional buying power of multiple entities to ensure best possible pricing.  Contract users are encouraged to request additional discounts on high volume orders.

These contracts allow participating states and localities to buy directly from contractors without individual and redundant formal procurement and gives access to many thousands of Homeland Security products through established contracts.

Currently, under the HIRE award there are 55 contractors offering in excess of 100,000 products through more than 600 product lines.  While not fulfilling all Domestic Preparedness product needs, a significant quantity of products are now available to end-users at contract pricing. Further, contract offerings are regularly updated as additional contractors and products are added to the contract. 

Benefits include:

•  Online pricing for all contract vendors
•  Ease of use search by manufacturer’s product
•  NASPO participation with documents and instructions for non NYS,
   county, and city participation:  http://www.naspo.org

Contract and NASPO participation information is available at New York State Office of General Services.

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Industry News: OFPP Asks Agencies To Increase, Improve Procurement Bids

By Jason Miller
Washington Technology

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy last week took the first step
toward implementing some of the Services Acquisition Reform Act
panel recommendations.

OFPP sent a memo to agency chief procurement officers and senior procurement executives asking them to increase the amount of competition for contracts, especially task and delivery order types. 

Paul Denett, OFPP administrator, said the amount of federal procurement money going to task orders grew to 52 percent in fiscal 2005 from 14 percent in 1990. Additionally, he said, a substantial number of these purchases were done by modifying existing contracts instead of competing them. 

“The acquisition workforce has a number of tools to facilitate the efficient and effective use of competition,” Denett said. “I am concerned  that we are not taking full advantage of these tools, especially in the placement of task and delivery orders under indefinite-delivery vehicles.”

Denett’s first request is to “reinvigorate the role of the Competition Advocate.” The OFPP Act required each agency to designate someone to promote competition and challenge barriers to competition in agency acquisitions.

Agency competition advocates must review the level of competition at their agencies by Dec. 20 and develop plans and goals to maximize competition, Denett said.

“Competition is back on people’s radar screens,” said Marcia Madsen, chairwoman of the SARA panel and a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown Rowe and Maw. “We heard a lot about it from the private sector, and competition is a good practice. OFPP picked up a lot of our work here.” 

OFPP also will ask the Federal Acquisition Regulations Council to consider five ways to improve competition.

•  Require annual reviews in writing by the Competition Advocate addressing the
   quality of planning, executing and managing of task orders worth more than
   $1 million.
•  Limit to one year the length of contracts awarded noncompetitively under urgent
   and compelling circumstances unless the chief acquisition officer approves.
•  List all sole-source awards on the fedbizopps.gov Website.
•  Strengthen competition rules for multiple-award schedules to ensure receipt of
   at least three proposals.
•  Identify evaluation factors and significant subfactors for large task and delivery
   orders that have statements of work to compare bids against.

Madsen said many of these suggestions came from the SARA panel.

“The amount going out under indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts is way up, and OFPP recognized this,” she said. “We don’t have good data on how competitive it is, and we need to have it.” 

Denett also wants the General Services Administration to develop new standard Federal Procurement Data System reports on contract actions that will clearly differentiate the types of actions.

Denett said this will “enable better trend analysis of competed contract actions and a clearer understanding of the relative impact of recent years’ activity on our acquisition workforce.” 

GSA also will centralize market research information for products and services. “We must work together to maximize the meaningful use of competition and achieve the best return on investment possible for our  taxpayers,” Denett said.

Madsen said she is excited that OFPP is taking the panel’s recommendations to heart.

“After we heard from [the] private sector about the way they buy services, you have to have a robust competitive process. Otherwise you will not get the deals you should be getting,” she said. “It is a basic concept, but sometimes you have to be reminded of it. OFPP has done that in their memo.” 

For more information, visit www.washingtontechnology.com.

Jason Miller writes for Government Computer News and Federal Computer Week, 1105 Government Information Group publications. 
© 1996-2007 1105 Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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NIGP Instructor Spotlight: Lu Banks, Ed.D., CPPO, CPPB

Teaching Is A Calling
By Lu Banks, Ed.D., CPPO, CPPB 
Director of Procurement Services
Hillsborough County Department of Procurement Services

I enjoy sharing information and helping others to learn procurement subject matter through the use of techniques, real examples, exercises, content and experiences.  I find value in knowing that a student is more informed when they leave my class than when they entered it; it's my job to make a material difference in their learning process.

[As far as the experiences I’ve had in the classroom], utilizing the tools (pre-test and post test) have had the most effect on me.  In my view, the pre-test begins at the point of measurement for the three-day learning experience. The post-test provides me with the outcomes that demonstrate whether I have covered the textbook and at the same time, depict the inclusion of engaging various exercises, classroom participation, examples/articles of procurement issues and a host of experiences to further expand upon the students’ learning process and expectations of the class.  I try to bring humor into the class while managing and delivering a qualified learning environment.  It is my job to keep the class interesting and make the subject lively!  I work hard at dazzling my students!

I believe [teaching] is a "calling" upon an individual to become a certified NIGP instructor.  You really have to like being an instructor which requires one to be most prepared when entering a classroom.  The instructor is the center of attention and the students are looking to that instructor to deliver!  What's in it for [me, as an] instructor?  Knowing that I have provided the students with added-value thorough delivery of the text, experiences I have encountered that may help them avoid "pitfalls," and all the things that I have to cram into three days to assist them on their journey toward being the best public procurement professional.

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Special Welcome: New NIGP Members - May 2007

Agency Members

Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
Carol Barnhill, C.P.M.
State University, AR

Biloxi Public Schools
Sherry Deshamp 
Biloxi, MS

City of Burlington
Bill Ray CLGPO
Burlington, NC

City of Statesboro
Darren Prather 
Statesboro, GA

Edwards Aquifer Authority
Susan Rodriquez 
San Antonio, TX

Florida State Board of Administration
Jennifer Williams 
Tallahassee, FL

Jordan School District
Jay Caldwell 
Sandy, UT

Lethbridge School District No. 51
Joseph Perry 
Lethbridge, AB
Canada

Mobile Airport Authority
Robyn DeBlaey 
Mobile, AL

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Ellen Casey  
Trenton, NJ

New York State Correctional Services, Division of Industries
Nancy Abraham 
Albany, NY

Newton County School System
Michael Barr, CPPB
Covington, GA

Oregon Admin Services - OPS Division
Lori Le Veaux 
Salem, OR

Singapore Health Services
Mun Leng Lok 
Singapore

South Carolina Judicial Department
Tracy Hill, CPPB 
Columbia, SC

Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute
Ronald Harris 
Danville, VA

University of South Carolina Beaufort
Renda Montford 
Bluffton, SC

Valley Metro Rail Procurement Department
Joe Ramirez 
Phoenix, AZ

West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commission
Vickie Marcum 
Charleston, WV


Individual Memberships

Patricia Austin, CPPO, CPPB
Saint Amant, LA

Krishnendu Bhattacharya, C.P.M.
Kolkata
India

Angelica de Limas 
Miami, FL

Lenore Dunn
Port St. Lucie, FL

Susan Herrera 
Kansas City, MO

Andre Moran, C.P.M., A.P.P.
Eugene, OR

Monique Phillips, CPPB
Kars, ON
Canada

David Scheerer 
Waterloo, ON 
Canada

Robert Telles 
Las Cruces, NM

Retired Members

Ann Maize, CPPB
Tucker, GA


Student Members

Regina Davis 
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Certification Exam Deadline Approaching

Written examinations for all UPPCC testing will be given in conjunction with the NIGP annual conference in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday, August 4.  Only applicants with approved applications on file with UPPCC are eligible for testing. 

The application submission deadline is Friday, June 15.  To apply, complete the Submission Form. 

The exam registration deadline is Friday, July 20.  Approved applicants, please select the appropriate Registration Form

Note that NIGP is offering Pre-Forum review sessions for the CPPO and CPPB exams on Thursday, August 2, and Friday, August 3, respectively.  A separate registration and fee is required to attend either session. To register, go to Pre-Forum Review Sessions.

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UPPCC Certifications: May 2007

Georgia
Robert Canada, CPPO, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Officer
Georgia Technology Institute

Ohio
James F. Hunley, CPPO
Procurement Supervisor
State of Ohio

Oregon
Gail Rubin, CPPO
Manager, Central Procurement & Contract Administration
Multnomah County

Texas
Niki Mathews, CPPO, CPPB
Purchasing & Materials Admin III
Texas Department of Transportation

New CPPBs 

Arizona
Betty Jean Austin, CPPB
Contracts Mgmt. Specialist III
Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs

Bristish Columbia
Jocelyn Cartwright, CPPB
Procurement Specialist
British Columbia Ministry of Children & Family Development

Mark Richter, CPPB
Supply Specialist
Public Works and Government Services Canada

Connecticut
Donald Casella, CPPB, MBA
Contract Team Leader
Connecticut Department of Administrative Services

Tammy Daniels-Bradley, C.P.M., CPPB
Buyer
Town of West Hartford

Florida
Melissa Adames, CPPB
Senior Procurement Contracting Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Norma Armstrong, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Marcelo Cam, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Maria Estevez, CPPB
Procurement Coordinator
City of Miami Beach

Danielle Gilbert, CPPB
Purchasing Analyst
Highlands County BCC

Elissa Goodman, CPPB
Senior Procurement Contracting Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Rene Guerrero, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Adil Khan, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Pablo Martinez, CPPB
Senior Procurement Contracting Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

James Munn, CPPB
IT Contracts and Procurement Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Terry Rolle, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Carlos Scull, CPPB
Procurement Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Drakus Wiggins, CPPB
Senior.Procurement Contracting Agent
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Oscar Willumsen, CPPB
Procurement Contracting Officer
Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management

Georgia
Donald R. Riley, CPPB
Assistant Purchasing Agent
Fulton County - Department of Purchasing

Michigan
Shelia Anderson, CPPO, CPPB
Assistant Director of Contract Compliance
Wayne County Airport Authority

Virginia
Sandra Gill, CPPB
Procurement Management Account Executive
Virginia Department of General Services

Rosetta Green, CPPB
Procurement Systems Coordinator
Norfolk Public Schools

Yukon Territory
Richard Rondeau, CPPB
Buyer
Yukon Energy Corporation

All certified and recertified CPPOs and CPPBs may be found at uppcc.org. 

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