|
--------------------------------
2,200 Entries!
Updated Definitions
and Acronymns
Order Today
--------------------------------
reminder:
An Ethical Violation
in the Headlines
- Now What ?
September 20
Register Today
--------------------------------
South Jersey
Chapter of NIGP
hosts
2007
Region 2 Conference
October 17 - 19
Atlantic City, NJ
www.sjnigp.org
---------------------------------
|
|
 |
NIGP Seeks Representatives To Certification Council, Board of Examiners, and LES Foundation |
Applications Are Due September 21, 2007
NIGP is seeking qualified leaders who are interested in serving as a NIGP representative for one of four positions:
• A NIGP Representative to the Universal Public Purchasing Certification
Council (UPPCC)’s Governing Board effective January 1, 2008. This
representative will replace Louis Moore CPPO, CPPB who has served the
Council’s Governing Board since January 2001 and is ineligible to serve
additional terms due to term limits.
• Two NIGP representatives to the Board of Examiners (BOE) of the UPPCC.
The Council appoints representatives to the BOE based on a recommendation
from the NIGP Board. One representative will replace Lucy Slaich, CPPO, C.P.M.
who has served the BOE since January 1999 and is ineligible to serve additional
terms due to term limits. This candidate must hold a current CPPO designation
and this appointment will be effective January 1, 2008. The second
representative is a new position on the Board and the candidate must minimally
hold a current CPPB designation. This appointment will be effective upon
approval by the UPPCC Governing Board.
• A NIGP Representative to the Lewis E. Spangler Professional Development
Foundation (LES) effective upon appointment through December 31, 2008.
This representative will replace Corrine Culver CPPO, CPPB who recently
resigned her position.
The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) is the governing body that makes policy decisions and oversees the implementation and administration of Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) professional certification programs for public purchasing officials. The Governing Board’s responsibilities include certification eligibility requirements, examination design, validation, administration, grading, and awarding of the certifications. The Governing Board is comprised of three representatives from NIGP, three representatives from the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), one Canadian central government official, and one United States federal government official.
Members of the Council’s Governing Board who are elected by the NIGP Board of Directors shall serve for a three-year term. Eligible candidates must be Certified Public Purchasing Officers (CPPO) whose certification is in good standing.
Visit the UPPCC Governing Board to learn more about this body.
The UPPCC Board of Examiners (BOE) prepares and administers written and oral examinations related to the UPPCC certification programs (CPPO and CPPB). The BOE also administers the appeals process for certification and re-certification applicants who are deemed ineligible by the UPPCC Program Administrator.
The BOE is comprised of twelve members of whom the NIGP Board of Directors nominates four. Eligible candidates must either be Certified Public Purchasing Officers (CPPO) or Certified Professional Public Buyers (CPPB) whose certification is in good standing.
Visit the UPPCC Board of Examiners to learn more about this body.
Individuals appointed to either the UPPCC Governing Board or the UPPCC Board of Examiners are required to execute the following UPPCC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement.
The LES Board of Directors governs all policies and procedures affecting the LES Foundation along with the review and award of scholarship, loan and grant applicants in order to financially assist procurement professionals and the profession. The foundation supports the mission of NIGP and supports their goals and objectives in order to maintain and raise the educational standards of the purchasing profession through quality programming, research and technical assistance.
The Foundation’s Board is comprised of nine members of whom the NIGP Board of Directors appoints four. Candidates must be financial contributors to the LES Professional Development Foundation within the current year; the level of contribution is not material.
Visit the LES Professional Development Foundation to learn more about this body.
Persons interested in applying for any of these positions should complete the Application as NIGP Representative to Auxiliary Organizations. The Auxiliary Organization Application provides an area to indicate the organization for which you are applying.
The application must be received in the NIGP National Office in Herndon, Virginia, via mail, e-mail or fax, by no later than Friday, September 21, 2007. After the deadline has passed, the NIGP Nominating Committee will recommend a slate of candidates to the NIGP Board of Directors.
Direct any questions to Vicky Mankin, Executive Assistant, at (800) FOR-NIGP x243.
|
 |
| |
Tallahassee Chapter Makes History |
A Success Story From The Tallahassee Area Chapter of NIGP
by
Steven K. Updike, CPPB, FCPA, FCN, FCCM
Government Operations Consultant
Office of the Director
Contract Management Unit
Tallahassee, FL
I would like to share a bit of a success story that involves the TACNIGP Annual Florida Governmental Purchasing Conference and Expo.
Last year, we had a record number of 160 exhibitors and a whopping 73 attendees who actually walked through the exhibit hall. The fact that only a minimal number of our 250+ attendees elected to visit the exhibits was due to a Florida Commission on Ethics Ruling that was issued 10 days prior to our event. The ruling had to do with certain government employees being prohibited from taking "anything of value" including nominal value promotional items distributed by vendors at trade shows. Prior to this ruling, these promotional items were not considered as items of value and most agencies allowed them. Agencies reacted by prohibiting their staff from attending the Expo portion of our event until their legal staff could review the ruling and modify their agency ethics rules. This lack of attendance caused great dissatisfaction with our vendors.
Knowing that we were going to have to overcome great obstacles to produce our event this year, and to secure our ability to produce such events in the future, we worked with the Commission on Ethics to insure that every aspect of the event was 100% above board. We also invited the Commission to do two break-out sessions, which they entitled "Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth". Next, we included vendors in all the conference sessions and meals to promote a better understanding of the government procurement and contracting process. We designed break-out sessions that were geared toward their success, including How to do business in Florida and becoming a CMBE. We ran One-on-One Sessions, which is a modified reverse trade show where we set aside 21 booths that were occupied by agency staff in three shifts, allowing the vendors to visit the agencies to talk One-on-One with the agencies they wanted extra time with. We hired Steve Gilliland for one of the two days and then worked to get the Chief Financial Officer of Florida Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services (the agency that houses State Purchasing) to team up to do a "Town Hall" forum.
Historically, the individuals holding these two positions (the one responsible for spending the State's money and the one responsible for protecting it) were always at odds with one another, leaving the procurement and contracting staff at the state agency level caught in between. We were able to get them into the same venue to address our attendees for approximately 15 minutes each on topics of importance within our profession. They followed that with answering questions from the attendees for a little over an hour. During this time, they pledged to work together to resolve the differences of opinion between their respective agencies, to work together to modernize our procurement statutes, and to strengthen the Florida Whistle Blower's Laws. They agreed to include procurement professionals in the review and re-write of the statutes and the replacement of our State's e-Procurement System. They pledged to support training and certification and to work toward getting politicians OUT of the procurement process.
In my introduction of the "Town Hall" session, I stated that the event was historical. It seemed that the press thought so too. Not only did the Capital Bureau Political Editor show up himself, but he attended both days. To view the newspaper articles, visit www.tallahassee.com and search "DMS Chief Pans Purchasing Rules" and "Efficiency Partners".
We intend to seize the opportunity!!!
[
return to top
] |
|
| |
Education Essential: Certification Exam Review Classes |
Preparing for the Written Exam - What to Expect
Thursday, September 27
1PM - 2:30 PM EST
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 19
This 90-minute Webinar outlines the format and physical setting of the CPPB examination process. It provides a brief study review of several key procurement topics followed by a set of typical practice examination questions and tips on how to prepare for and take the CPPB examination.
Register Today
Presented By:
William E. Hertwig, Jr., CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIGP also offers more extensive, one-day CPPB and CPPO Exam Review classes that review the Body Of Knowledge upon which the certification exams are based. Review classes also explain the exam format, provide test taking tips, pretest samples, and review specific topics that have historically been problematic for candidates.
If any chapter or agency would like to host one of these courses, contact lgaffney@nigp.org or complete the 2007-2008 Seminar Request Form.
[
return to top
] |
|
| |
NIGP Launches Third Knowledge Community: PREP |
PREP, Procurement's Response to Emergency Preparedness, allows member agencies to develop partnerships with other member agencies to assist in times of emergency. Your partner will be there to provide immediate prearranged assistance to public purchasing personnel during pre and post emergencies in order to ensure public health, safety and continuity of government.
NIGP's newest knowledge community was launched at Forum with a workshop entitled "PREP - Are You Ready?". PREP leaders presented a preparedness program that examined the benefits of working cooperatively and how jurisdictions can work together proactively to reduce human vulnerability to a disaster's devasting effects.
PREP brings the 'tough won' knowledge of those who have responded to a disaster to a central repository of template solicitation terms, forms, policy, procedures and an All-Hazards commodity and service list. The knowledge community also provides legal framework within which procurement organizations can provide emergency logistical support.
The three NIGP Knowledge Communities - K-12, eProcurement and PREP - provide members with common interests an opportunity to connect and share pertinent information as well as best practices. This professional connection empowers professionals by increasing their effectiveness and ability to support the publics they serve. Member-exclusive programs include dedicated list serves, live webinars, and topical face-to-face conferences covering issues most relevant to the knowledge communities’ needs.
If you are interested in joining any of these there knowledge communities, contact memberinfo@nigp.
[
return to top
] |
|
| |
The Pulse of the Profession |
In a timely presentation, "Marketing Your Worth and Value So People
Listen",
 Marcheta Gillespie, CPPB, C.P.M., CPM,
Deputy Director of Procurement, City of Tucson, Arizona pointed out in her well-received workshop that public procurement professionals DO have an impressive story to tell, and we need to tell it frequently.
Marcheta described these effective ways to
share your story:
• Send announcements to your organization and the media
when staff members win awards and earn certifications
• Convene community meetings and focus groups
• Use brochures, posters and postcards to educate stakeholders about the
services you provide
• Compile and send reports detailing how the procurement department saved
monies through negotiation
Think about your job descriptions. You are stewards of taxpayer's dollars, ensure open and fair competition, contribute to your organization's bottom line, perform with integrity, protect your organizations and minimiize risk and liability, and this is just a few of the services you master on a daily basis.
One of the workshop attendees commented, the value of the profession is 'priceless'. Public Procurement is 'priceless' and we all need to let stakeholders know it.
[
return to top
] |
|
| |
U.S. Communities Searches For Green |
The U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance is now offering participants the ability to search for environmentally sensitive products on-line. The search process allows purchasers to type in a product name, category or brand name of a product or product line. The search engine uses new technology to find the product in any U.S. Communities supplier catalogue that is searchable on-line. Once the search is completed, the purchaser can click on a link to the product in order to be linked to the U.S. Communities pricing and the supplier ordering systems
The U.S. Communities program provides significant product offerings for green purchasing. Whether it’s office supplies, paper or toner, lighting and electrical, Energy Star rated appliances, electronic product environmental assessment tools (EPEAT) and computers, Green Seal certified janitorial supplies, recyclable carpet and flooring, recycled and non-toxic office and school furniture, environmentally sound playground and recreational equipment, hypoallergenic safety equipment, or environmentally sensitive roofing products and related services, the U.S. Communities team of suppliers provides it all at deep discounts.
As an example, if a purchaser was seeking paper products that meet various environmental standards, they could enter the words “paper”. The number of search results will depend upon the commonality of the product line and the extent to which the U.S. Communities suppliers stock the items.
This new service is tailored to compliment other green initiatives at U.S. Communities and its founding co-sponsors. It also is designed to fit into the various initiatives of U.S. Communities suppliers and partners. In the future, U.S. Communities will add search capacity for suppliers that are not on the U.S. Communities program in order to provide buyers with the broadest possible information for making environmentally sensitive purchasing decisions.
For more information, visit www.uscommunities.org.
[
return to top
] |
|
