Upcoming Webinars: What's In The Fine Print? & Does It Really Say That?

What’s In the Fine Print and Why?
Standard Purchase Order Terms and Conditions for Goods
Thursday, December 13th
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Wednesday, December 5

Course Objectives:

•  Understand the nature and purpose of the P.O. for goods
•  Apply the legal requirements of the P.O. to the business purposes
   of the organization
•  Develop new and/or revise existing P.O. documents to better fit
   organizational needs
•  Create P.O. training materials for the use of client departments     

                                            Presented By: 
                                         
                                 Michael Bevis, CPPO, C.P.M.   
                                   Chief Procurement Officer   
                                       City of Naperville, IL     
                                           Register Today


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Does It Really Say That?
The Law and Public Procurement
Thursday, December 20
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Wednesday, December 12

Course Objectives:

•  Identify the issues that need to be considered when a protest arises
•  Distinguish bid irregularities which can be waived from those which cannot
•  Understand the most appropriate course of action twhen faced with 
   bid irregularities

                                          Presented By:

                         Kirk Buffington, CPPO, MBA, C.P.M. 
                          Director of Procurement Services 
                                        Broward County 
                                  Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

                                 Michael Kolodisner, CPPO 
                                          Unit Manager 
                      Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 

                                 C. Moty Torres, MSPA, J.D. 
                              Manager Professional Services
                     Metropolitan Water Distrcit of Southern California  
                                          Register Today

In The News: Maricopa County Fleet To Go Green

2,000 Cars Will Be Replaced by Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The Board of Supervisors has decided that  Maricopa County, Arizona will replace its fleet of vehicles with hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles.  Over time the county's 2,000 cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks will be swapped for less-polluting vehicles rated by the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Vehicle Guide.

Instead of making purchasing decisions based mostly on cost, supervisors plan on weighing environmental costs before funding is approved for new vehicles.  The county's fleet travels some 25 million miles a year and puts out more than 30 million pounds of emissions, both pollutants and greenhouse gases.  County officials estimate cutting this down by between 3 million and 15 million pounds of a year, depending on how much they can afford spending on the more-efficient cars which tend to cost more.

Local govenments across the country are responding with policies to combat global warming and lower pollution as public awareness increases and going green has become more fashionable, national experts say. 

Maricopa County's new policy allows officials to buy a range of cleaner vehicles from the most fuel-efficient unleaded vehicles to biomass-fueled vehicles to hybrids.

Vehicles are replaced when they reach ten years or 100,000 miles.  Replacements will likely begin within the next six months.

This story was reported by Yvonne Wingett in the Arizona Republic.  For more details, visit www.azcentral.com.

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Reminder: Call For Presentations For 63rd Annual Forum

                             

                            “Your Vision And Drive Can Inspire  
                   A Trip To The Winner’s Circle For The Profession” 

July 26 - 30, 2008
Charlotte Convention Center

Interested in sharing your compelling thoughts and innovative ideas with an enthusiastic public procurement audience?

This just may be the opportunity for you.  NIGP's 63rd Annual Forum and Products Exposition is a once-a-year event that engages more than 1,200 public procurement professionals from all around the world.  Last year’s forum featured over 50 speakers who focused on a broad range of strategic and practical procurement applications.

To learn more about how you can become a presenter, visit Call for Presentations or call 800-367-6447 x253. 

Application Deadline:  Monday, December 17, 2007. [ return to top ]

Rosalie Ciummo: National Distance Learning Week Contest Winner

Congratulations Rosalie Ciummo, King County Government, Department of Executive Services Seattle, Washington, NIGP's National Distance Learning Week contest winner and proud owner of an iPod® Nano.

Here's a brief interview with our winning member and why online training is important to her:

What is your background in public procurement?
For about 6 years, I did the purchasing of supplies, some equipment and outside printing services for King County while I was working in the Printing/Graphics section of King County.  I have been working in the Procurement section of King County now for about 9 years, mainly doing small purchases under $25,000.

How did you get involved with public procurement?
I actually found I enjoyed working with our clients and suppliers when I was in printing.  I had done printing and prepress for about 22 years and had an opportunity to step into some new duties for the printing services within King County.

How long have you been in public procurement?
Nine years in the actual Procurement and Contract Services Division.

What have you found most beneficial/your favorite thing about Distance Learning?
It is the most convenient way!  Most classes involve being away from the job for a full day, making sure you have a vehicle to get there with and travel time to an unfamiliar location.  With a busy schedule it makes it very easy to take advantage of the classes being offered.

For more information on distance learning opportunities, email distancelearning@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447) x273.
 
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U.S. Communities & HD Supply Support Environmentally Preferable MRO Products

The procurement of environmentally preferable products is becoming standard practice for state, local and federal governments, educational, non-profit and housing authority entities nationwide. Sustainable products provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare and the ecosystem over their full life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to final disposition. These types of supplies can help you manage the energy costs of your facilities while practicing environmentally conscious and sustainable facility solutions.

Green buildings address human and environmental health in five key areas:

•  Energy Efficiency
•  Indoor Environmental Quality
•  Materials Selection
•  Site Development
•  Water Savings

The following product offerings help provide solutions in maintaing a sustanable environment:

Energy Efficiency

Lighting, on average, consumes 25 percent of the energy use in typical buildings. Energy efficient light bulbs and ballasts can help reduce operating costs. These types of products include compact fluorescent bulbs, motion sensors, dimmer switches and high-efficient appliances.

Did You Know? JoPP Can Now Be Searched And Printed

Articles from the Journal of Public Procurement can now be searched and printed from NIGP's Members Only Section.

In 2001, under the sponsorship of NIGP and Florida Atlantic University, FAU, the Journal of Public Procurement was launched to serve NIGP's individual and agency members, other government procurement professional organizations and interested readers.

The mission of the Journal of Public Procuremernt (JoPP) is to further the understanding of public procurement by exploring theories and practices in functional, substantive, and topical areas.

Printed copies are now available through a paid subscription from the publisher, PrAcademics Press at www.pracademics.com. [ return to top ]

Certification: Basic Benefits

Based on the recent UPPCC Job Analysis Study, it is clear that certification has its benefits.

•  82 percent of over 1,800 public procurement professionals surveyed affirmed that when considering candidates for employment positions when all other qualifications are equal, certified professionals have the hiring advantage.

•  Respondents also confirmed the tendency for employers to offer higher starting salaries and/or additional bonuses to certified employees than to the non-certified employee.

Aside from the financial benefits certification can provide, many individuals consistently comment that certification builds their self-esteem, increases confidence in their abilities as well as broadens professional knowledge through their exam preparation efforts.

For more information on certification, visit www.uppcc.org.

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UPPCC Reminder: Fully Certified Agency Award Deadline Fast Approaching

The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) Fully Certified Agency Award program is an annual award.  Interested agencies must apply by the end of the calendar year in order to receive recognition for that year. 

For an organization to be eligible to receive this award, every procurement professional employed by an agency must hold an active certification conferred by the UPPCC (CPPO or CPPB).   Agencies having only one individual who is solely responsible for the procurement process are also eligible.

For complete requirements, visit UPPCC Fully Certified Agency Award. [ return to top ]

UPPCC: District of Columbia - October 2007 Certifications

Congratulations to the following individuals for successfully completing the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) certification requirements!

New CPPBs