Forum: Last Day For Early Bird Registration

Are you ready to find your way to the winner’s circle? 

NIGP’s 63rd Annual Forum and Products Exposition
Charlotte, North Carolina
July 26-30

This is your last chance to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration rate and receive $50 off your Forum registration fee.  Also, first-time Forum attendees receive an additional $50 off their registration fees.  Register now to receive the maximum discounts available!  Standard registration rates begin Thursday, May 1. 

Register online today.

Forum: Social Events And More

It's The Social Event of A Lifetime

Sunday, July 27 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  Whether or not you are a racing fan, this is an event not to be missed!  Enjoy fantastic southern fare and an incredible amount of free activities including remote control cars, high performance karting, NASCAR simulated racing, and Xbox racing. 

Do you have a need for speed?  Experience firsthand what it is like to ride in a race car that exceeds speeds of 165 miles per hour.  Reserve your spot today for a Richard Petty Ride Along or Rookie Experience.  Tickets are available at an extra charge for these activities.  This is an unbelievable experience, just ask your host committee co-chair, Chris Payne, or NIGP Events Director, Carrie Rawn, who have both experienced this exhilarating ride-along.  For more information on the social event, and to register for Ride Along experiences visit Forum Social Event.

Pre-Forum Seminars

•  New Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and
   Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) Prep Courses
   Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25

These new classes will prepare candidates for the CPPO and CPPB computer-based exams beginning in October 2008.  For those candidates who are eligible to test at Forum using the existing exam format, NIGP will also offer the existing CPPO and CPPB Review classes.  These review classes are only available to those who plan to test at Forum.  Seating is limited for both the reviews and UPPCC exams.  For more information on review classes contact events@nigp.org and for exam info, contact certification@uppcc.org.

•  Chapter Leadership Symposium
   Saturday, July 26

If you are a Chapter Leader or aspire to become one, then you don't want to miss this valuable learning opportunity.  All chapter officers are invited.  Enroll today.  For additional information contact registrationinfo@nigp.org.


•  Contracting for Public Sector Services
   Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26

Contracting for public sector services dominates contract spending at all levels of government in countries around the world.  This course examines the process beginning with the decision to "make or buy" through the special considerations of the services RFP, the contract award and contract administration.

Pre-Forum seminars are at an additional charge and seating is limited.  Register today for any of these opportunities.

Workshops

Workshop topics have been announced!  Pre-registration is not required but is recommended so that appropriate space can be allocated for popular workshops.  To use our easy online registration system,  simply log onto the Members Only section of the NIGP website and follow the directions to edit your Forum registration profile.   

Hotel Reservations

Reserve your hotel room directly with your preferred hotel. Hotels are filling up quickly so register early to get into your first preference. 

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Forum: NEW Executive Leadership Series

Driving Decisions:  A Strategic Focus on Procurement

New at this year's Forum, a unique series for senior level professionals.  "Driving Decisions:  A Strategic Focus on Procurement".  This Executive Leadership Series offers insight into issues that articulate the value of the profession to other stakeholders in your organization.  If you are a senior procurement professional or partner with procurement and make strategic decisions, these workshops are for you. 

Workshops will be conducted by professional facilitators and are intended to provide powerful, positive and useful information to support your efforts with internal and external clients.

Through facilitated discussion, you will explore applied concepts of communication, organizational leadership and municipal finance to help drive the decisions you make on a daily basis.

At no additional cost to your Forum registration fees, the Executive Leadership Series focuses on subjects that are important to you, the executive-level
procurement professional.

Early bird registration ends today.  Space is limited.  Bring your laptop and a commitment to learn. For a detailed description of this new series, visit Executive Leadership and register today.

Delegates choosing to register for this series will attend 24 hours of class time during the normal Forum schedule.  However, series participants will still be able to attend Forum plenary sessions, products exposition, networking and social events. 

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Forum: Join The Team That Makes It Happen

...The Forum Quality Control Team

What is the Quality Control Team (QCT)?

The QCT is an all-volunteer group comprised of flexible, dependable professionals willing to work behind the scenes at all Forum events.

What are the responsibilities of the QCT?

The QCT is divided into two groups: Special Events and Education

Special Events QCT Staff perform the following duties:

•  Assist and direct attendees during meal functions and social events
•  Report to the QCT Special Events Co-Chair for Assignments

Education QCT Staff perform the following duties:

•  Post signage for educational workshops
•  Introduce speakers
•  Distribute and collect workshop evaluations 
•  Hand out speaker gifts 
•  Check A/V Equipment

Workshop assignments are based on QCT workshop preferences, so volunteers are assured that they attend the workshop of their choice.

Why should I volunteer?

•  Each QCT volunteer qualifies for one recertification point for the CPPB
   and/ or CPPO designation
•  To be a part of the inner-workings of educational workshops and special events
•  To give back to the profession by donating your time and talents
•  To have fun and participate in a rewarding experience

How do I learn more about QCT?

For more information on how to be a QCT volunteer, please contact the NIGP Events Administrator, Patrice Freeman at 800-367-6447 x276 or pfreeman@nigp.org.

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Research: NIGP 2007 Benchmark Study Results Are In

Did you know...

•  79.8% of purchasing departments handle construction contracting while
   32.2% handle fuel futures contracting

•  85.1% of purchasing departments are responsible for surplus property
   disposal and 33.9% are responsible for printing and courier functions

•  26.1% of purchasing departments issued purchase orders/contracts 
   valued between $100 and $500 million in the past fiscal year and
   between 1,000 and 2,500 purchase orders

•  69.8% of purchasing departments have purchasing card programs with the
   majority reporting transaction limits between $1,000 and $5,000

•  49.6% of purchasing departments report to Finance; 19.9% report
   to the CEO; and 16.3% report to General Services or Administration

The NIGP Benchmark Study provides much more information, including competitive and award thresholds, purchases through cooperatives/consortia, cycle times, and purchasing-related revenue.

Members can download Benchmarking Survey Results for all the details.  [ return to top ]

Upcoming Webinar: Life Cycle Costing and Your Agency

Thursday, May 8
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Reservation Deadline:  Friday, May 2

Course Objectives:

•  Identify costs related to specific types of
   purchases and ways to minimize life cycle cost
•  Develop methods of solicitation for life cycle cost
•  Understand the relation of life cycle cost and environmentally-friendly
   purchasing
•  Discover life cycle cost limitations

                                               Presented by:
                                    
                                   Michael J. Kolodisner, CPPO
                                    Contract Services Manager
                    Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

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Green is on the Scene: NIGP Creates New Green Knowledge Community

NIGP's Green Knowledge Community brings together subject matter experts and practitioners to develop, disseminate and promote information and resources for and about policy development, environmentally preferable products, and social and economic responsibility in public procurement.

The community works to raise awareness and inspire others to think, learn, develop and promote their own environmentally and socially thoughtful programs.

Green Knowledge Community Leaders include:

Thomas Appleby, CPPO, CPPB, C.I.M.
Regional Municipality of York
Newmarket, ON

Jeffrey Baer, CPPO, CPPB
City of Portland
Portland, OR

Rocky Brannan, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M.
City of Yuma
Yuma, AZ

Scot Case
Terra Choice Marketing
Reading, PA

Kitty Gilespie
Olympia, WA

Matt Kittell
Center for a New American Dream
Takoma Park, MD

Connie Kuranko
U.S. Communities
Walnut Creek, CA

Nancy Locke
City of Seattle
Seattle, WA

Chris O'Brien
New American Dream/Responsible Sourcing
Purchasing Network
Takoma Park, MD

Joe Sandoval
County of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

For more information or to join, visit Green Knowledge Community or call Faye Jackson at 800-367-6447 x223.  [ return to top ]

News: L.A. Court Ruling Benefits Public Agencies Nationwide

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant rejected plaintiff Canon Business Solutions-West's assertions that the L.A. Purchasing Alliance engaged in anti-competitive business practices by taking part in the U.S. Communities program.   The U.S. Communities program enables any city, county or public entity the opportunity to obtain products and services according to the terms and conditions of a competitively solicited and awarded contract.  

Controversy over the  U.S. Communities program arose after the city of Los Angeles unveiled its procurement plan to purchase multifunction copiers that reflected its commitment to the U.S. Communities program. 

Canon filed suit arguing that forcing successful bidders to sell their goods and services on the same terms and conditions to agencies all across the U.S. was anti-competitive and unfair.

U.S. Communities intervened in the case on behalf of the city and defended the alliance and emphasized how the alliance has enabled taxpayers to save over $100 million in the last decade.

The judge denied all of Canon's claims and ruled that the city was not guilty of breaking any antitrust laws.

The case is Canon Business Solutions-West vs. City of Los Angeles.  Case Number BS110496 in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Source:  Portfolio Media, Inc. [ return to top ]