Forum: 2007 Distinquished Service Award Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA), NIGP’s second highest individual award, recognizes professionals who have provided extraordinary service to their entity, their community, the Institute or the purchasing profession.  Since its inception in the 1950s, this honor has been bestowed on over 100 individuals. 

The following are this year's award-winners:

Mike Kolodisner, CPPO
Contracting Services Manager
Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California
Mike captures the essence of leadership and service - dedicating his 30-year career to professional development and training.  He has served as Chapter President for two chapter affiliates as well as an organizational planner of one of NIPG's most successful Forums.  His legacy lies in his vastly effective work as a mentor and is referred to by colleagues as a "premier ambassador" who is imaginative, influential, humorous, and somewhat unconventional.  As a writer of educational courseware, his workshiops are always in high demand - primarily because his passion for teaching is personal and genuine.  For most of his career, Mike has focused on emphasizing the value of education, devoting his time and talents to training others and insuring that his staff are equipped to be proactive and professional.  His career has spanned 30 years in the states of Arizona, Maryland and now in California.

Steve Swendiman
Managing Directorand Chief Executive Officer
NACo Financial Services Center
Steve has a unique sixth sense which empowers him to innovate, motivate and advocate.  He has consistently championed the cause of best business practices in government.  Steve has an amazing track record for developing innovative programs that gain efficiencies while saving significant tax dollars.  And, with unrestrained optimism, he motivates many others to champion this cause.  His commitment to effective government began with public services as an elected official and continued as a leader for a state association serving governmental entities.  With each career move, he advocated  public benefit through cost cutting programs.  He was instrumental in leading to the establishment of the Governmental Purchasing Alliance known as U.S. Communities.  Over the past ten years, the U.S. Communities program ahs generated over $2.5 billion in public spend - resulting in substantial time and resource savings while generating hard dollar savings of more than $375 million. 

Lieutenant Colonel Mr. Willard Walton, CPPO
Wil commands the utmost respect form the halls of federal, city and country governments that is earned through wisdom, guidance, grace, and, above all, endurance.  He enjoyed an outstanding career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army before retiring to a second career where he led major purchasing operations for County and City governments.  During that period, he served with distinction on the NIGP Board of Directors and provided a steady hand to numerous advisory boards and committees including Diversity, Forum, Research, Ethics, Education, Finance and the Building Committee.  With each commitment to service, his calming demeanor and gentleness instilled unbounded admiration and inspired others to lead.  He has graced purchasing offices from Montgomery County, Maryland and the District of Columbia to the City of Alexandria, Virginia. 

Forum: 2007 Chapter Award Recipients

The following 2007 Chapter of the Year award-winners are recognized for their outstanding accomplishments on behalf of public procurement.  Congratulations to all.
 
Small Chapter of the Year
Mid-Florida Chapter of NIGP

•  Launched a formal scholarship program through the success of its annual
   reverse tradeshow.  Fifteen scholarships totaling $8,872.50 were awarded

•  Collaboratively established and disseminated a list of bids available for
   piggy back

•  Each year the Chapter selects an organization to work with and collect
   donations.  In 2006, Meals on Wheels was the recipient of Chapter-donated
   gifts and food tems for home-bound elderly

Medium Chapter
Columbia Chapter of NIGP

•  Their successful first reverse tradeshow — in partnership with the Oregon
   Public Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP — drew 170 vendors and
   28 public agencies.  Through show-derived revenues, the Chapter funded
   two additional scholarships

•  Conducted a profitable Cookbook Fundraiser

•  Established a Rewards Program to reward chapter members who actively
   participate in the activities organized, hosted or sponsored by the chapter.
   The chapter applies a portion of revenue generated from chapter fundraisers
   to support this program.

Large Chapter
Oregon Public Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP

•  Members of OPPA and their agencies participated in an Intergovernmental
   Cooperative Procurement Group to facilitate cooperative procurements as
   permitted by the State of Oregon's procurement statutes

•  Began a charitable campaign associated with each of their workshops and
   conferences.  Fundraisers were established to benefit a charitable organization
   in the area where each of the training sessions was held

•  OPPA established "OPPA-Link", a Listserv that all members can access allowing
   them to post solicitation documents along with open job opportunities, innovative
   ideas and suggestions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Buyer of the Year

Parshotam Lal Channa, CPPO, CPPB, CPP, CPPM
Colulmbus Regional Airport Authortiy, Ohio 
Central Ohio Organization of Public Purchasers

•  Through development of a systems architecture diagram for the
   Navison automated  procurement system, brought clairty of process
   and role to all system participants

•  Major contributor to the New Vendor Validation Process that reduced Columbus
   Regional Airport's exposure to fradulent vendors

•  Revised "Doing Business With CRAA" guide for prospective contractors,
   clarifying processes and requirements for prospective contractors

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Manager of the Year

Keith Glatz, CPPO
City of Tamarac, Florida 
Southeast Florida Chapter of NIGP

•  Authored the 2005 City of Tamarac Procurement Card Policy which is referenced
   as the model policy by other local government agencies

•  Instituted a new sole source justification policy adopted by other area entities

•  Developed a formal training program stressing professional certification for all
   Purchasing and Contracts Division staff

•  Partnered with Florida Atlantic University to coordinate a special chapter event
   for a visiting delegation of Bulgarian government purchasing officials

UPPCC: Sterling Agency Award Recipients

The Sterling Award is presented in recognition of an agency's commitment to excellence demonstrated through its maintenance of a fully certified procurement staff for three consecutive years. 

The UPPCC recognizes the following agencies:

City of Ames
Iowa

City of Goodyear
Arizona

City of Miami
Florida

City of Naperville
Illinois

El Paso County
Colorado

Washington County
Oregon [ return to top ]

Member News: New Appointments

Stephen B. Gordon, Ph.D., FNIGP, CPPO, recently appointed Director of Procurement for the City of Alexandria.  Dr. Gordon previously held the position of  Education Program Officer for The World Bank Group.  In 2006, he received NIGP's top award, the Albert H. Hall Memorial Award for his "integrity, credibility, and accountability." Dr. Gordon believes that knowledge through life-long education and professional development breeds credibility.  He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science from Mississippi State University and his Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

David Gragan, CPPO, recently appointed Director of Procurement for the District of Columbia.  Mr. Gragan was previously the Chief Purchasing Officer for Texas where he established a statewide procurement-training program.  In 2004, he received NIGP's Distinguished Service Award, the second highest award which recognizes individuals who have provided extraordinary service to their entity, their community, the Institute or the purchasing profession.

Rhonda Scott, CPPO, C.P.M., recently appointed Purchasing Director for Osceola, Florida.  Ms. Scott was previously the Director of Procurement Services for Orange County Public Schools in Orange County, Florida, the 11th largest school district in the nation.   In 2002 and in 2006, she served on the Governor’s Task Force commissioned to rewrite Florida State Statutes, Chapter 218.39, Auditor Selection.  Rhonda is a lifetime certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and earned her B.A. Degree from the University of Central Florida. She also serves on the UPPCC Board of Examiners representing FAPPO, the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers.

Sally Long recently appointed Manager of Purchasing by the Lee County Port Authority for Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field General Aviation Airport.  Ms. Long previously held the position of Contracts Manager for the City of Fort Myers.  She also worked as Director of Purchasing at the state’s G. Pierce Wood Hospital. Sarah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from International College.

[ return to top ]

Education: New NIGP Public Procurement Dictionary of Terms

2,200 Entries!  Updated Definitions and Acronyms

As the procurement profession continues to evolve so do the terms, acronyms and definitions that are essential to critical government work.  NIGP recognizes the importance and relevance of keeping abreast of industry terminology and is pleased to announce an extensive new edition of the NIGP Dictionary of Purchasing Terms.  (This is a revised and updated edition of one of NIGP's most popular publications, the NIGP Dictionary of Purchasing Terms).

The new NIGP Dictionary of Purchasing Terms contains over 2,200 entries and was recently introduced at NIGP's Annual Forum.  This compilation of terms, acronyms and definitions articulates phrases with unique meanings relevant to purchasing activities.

This dictionary is intended to be a living document designed as an effective resource for all procurement professionals.  As the profession continues to change, new terms and definitions will need to be added to ensure it encompasses relevant and current terminology.

If you find a word that has not been included, or a more concise and relevant definition may apply, please submit these suggestions to the Editorial Board via dictionary@nigp.org. The Editorial Board will review submissions on a semi-annual basis.  This will ensure that the dictionary reflects the language of the professsion while documenting relevant terms and phrases.

With a commitment to excellence and desire to develop, support and promote the public procurement profession, the NIGP Public Procurement Dictionary of Terms is a fundamental reference for every purchasing office and professional.

Webinar: Cooperative Purchasing Benefits - The U.S. Communities Program

Thursday, August 30
1PM - 2:30PM (EDT)
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, August 22

                                                    Presenters: 

                                                 

           Darren C. Muci, CPPO                            Art Hanby, CPPO, CPPB,
                                                                                C.P.M., A.P.P.

Register for this session if you want to understand what constitutes cooperative purchasing and the issues regarding its legalities, benefits of cooperative purchasing opportunities, and how the U.S. Communities program operates. 

[ return to top ]

Procurement News: Acquisition terms are worth their weight in gold

By Richard Knop
Washington Technology

Due diligence and the negotiation of terms and conditions in connection with mergers and acquisitions of government contractors have become increasingly complicated and protracted.

The terms and conditions of a transaction are as important as, if not more so than, the purchase price because they primarily relate to the buyer and seller sharing the risk.

This trend of deeper due diligence and more difficult negotiations is a product of several factors, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, increased board oversight, new Small Business Administration recertification rules, higher valuations, a changing procurement environment, serial buyers and private-equity groups becoming more sophisticated and experienced in the government, and increased use by buyers of experienced outside consultants and advisers.

Buyers are analyzing in detail small-business and set-aside contracts; compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation; retention of key management and employees; tax issues such as S Corporation status, the validity of revenue and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization projections; and all legal and accounting systems and issues.

Over the years, a body of customary transaction terms for federal information technology transactions has developed. Some of the current trends relate to:

•  Contingent consideration or earnouts.
•  The form of the transaction — stock purchase vs. asset purchase.
•  Escrows and holdbacks.
•  Retention of key employees.
•  Representations and warranties.
•  Indemnification.
•  Noncompete agreements for sellers and key employees.

There also has been an increased use of earnouts, escrows and holdbacks to mitigate risk caused by the transfer of set-aside contracts and valuations based on projected continued strong growth of the target company and in situations where there are contract or legal issues.

Every transaction of a privately held company involves detailed representations and warranties and indemnification by the sellers. The negotiation of these terms has become increasingly detailed and sophisticated.

The other major focus of buyers of federal services companies is on contractual provisions to ensure that the intellectual capital of the seller is retained by the buyer.

Customarily, retention agreements are entered into by the seller with his key employees before closing and approved by the buyer.

Sellers want to reward key employees, and buyers want to retain them and restrict their ability to compete with them.

As a result of a lot of experience with these retention agreements during the past 10 years, the language and mechanisms employed for retention have become increasingly sophisticated.

The way to obtain the most favorable terms and conditions in a government contractor’s M&A is a controlled auction, in which the company for sale has a detailed and accurate offering memorandum presented by its M&A advisers to the most strategically motivated buyers at the appropriate decision-making level.

The use of a virtual data room for the final three to five potential buyers gives them the detailed information they need to submit a detailed offer that includes most of the key terms and conditions that would ordinarily be negotiated in the purchase and sale agreement.

This mitigates the risk and expense for the buyer and allows the seller to compare not only the purchase price and valuation from the finalists but also the critical and equally important terms and conditions.

The use of qualified and experienced advisers for both sellers and buyers has never been more important than it is today.

Richard Knop is senior managing director and co-head of the defense and government services group at BB&T Capital Markets/ Windsor Group, of Reston, Va.
© 1996-2007 1105 Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For more information, visit www.washingtontechnology.com.

This article is reprinted for informational purposes and does not represent an endorsement by NIGP.

  [ return to top ]