eProcurement: Connecticut Governor Restricts State Purchasing Cards

Governor M. Jodi Rell is directing the state Department of Administrative Services to restrict State spending under the Purchasing Card program.  As part of her efforts to reduce state spending, Governor Rell said Pcards can be used only for purchases 'of a critical nature.'

Governor Rell recently directed state agency heads to eliminate all but the most essential spending for goods and services for the remainder of the fiscal year, which expires June 30.

"Many state agencies are accustomed to making year-end purchases to use up their current budgets and that is a practice we simply cannot afford,"  Governor Rell said.  "We are examining every area of government to identify and implement cost-savings.  We must make our government do more with less, just as families across Connecticut are doing every day."

The Pcard system accounts for about $20 million a year in state spending and the cards are authorized for use because they cut the Stats payment processing costs.

Last month, Governor Rell directed the Department of Administrative Services to coordinate with all state agencies on her instructions to begin cutting back on the use of state-owned vehicles.  The Governor told agencies to reduce total agency mileage and accompanying gasoline consumption by 10 percent by June 30, 2008 and by 25 percent by June 30, 2009.

Source:  State of Connecticut Executive Chambers Press Release.. 

Pre-Forum Seminars: Get You Ready For The Winner's Circle

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 that begin 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 information, 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 encouraged to attend.  Enroll today. For additional information, contact registrationinfo@nigp.org.

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

Contracting for services dominates contract spending at all levels of government in countries around the world.  This course examines the services contracting 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.

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Forum: NEW Executive Leadership Series - Workshop Descriptions

A unique series for senior level professionals. 

"Driving Decisions:  A Strategic Focus on Procurement".  Through its focus on leadership and finance skills, 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 for your agency, these workshops are for you.

TRACK:  Organizational Leadership
Dates:  Sunday, July 27 - Monday, July 28
Facilitator:  Philip L. Lee, J.D. MPM, Results Leadership Group

Sunday, July 27

9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m
Learning to Maximize Customer Impact
Participants will explore challenges and opportunities for improving customer impact, including a discussion of strategies from the field. Themes in organizational development that emerge in this session will be an integral part throughout the two day program.

1:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Negotiation and Skilled Collaboration
Participants will explore their own negotiation styles and assumptions as well as strategies and opportunities to negotiate more valuable agreements.

Monday, July 28

9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Persuasion – An Essential Leadership Tool
Arguably, traditional roles of power and authority are diminishing in leadership and management with a corresponding increase in the demand for skill in persuasion. These trends and tools for effective persuasion are the focus of this session.

2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
The Leader as Storyteller
The ancient art of storytelling is rapidly gaining currency as an essential competency for leaders and managers. Participants will consider the reason for storytelling, the use of storytelling and specific storytelling techniques.

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TRACK:  Financial Leadership
Dates:  Tuesday, July 29 - Wednesday, July 30
Facilitator:  F. Wayne Hill and Charlotte J. Nash, Nashill, Inc.

Tuesday, July 29

10 a.m. to 12Noon
Finance Basics
All budgets tell a story. This session will help participants find out how the numbers in the Budget Document and financial reports can demonstrate the real priorities of an organization.  (Think funded goals versus stated goals.)

1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Financial Mysteries
The power of the purse strings is a fact of life in the public sector, with the officials and staff who hold them often seeming to have too much control.  This module will allow participants to gain an understanding of the perspective that Finance staff bring to the organization and to the decision making process.

Wednesday, July 30

8 a.m. to 12Noon
What Lurks In The Minds Of Elected Officials?
Your organization may run like clockwork but without a clear understanding of how an elected official and his platform may impact your organization’s outcomes, you may be wasting your time.

1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Personal Action Planning
This final session will afford the participants the chance to discuss lessons learned and newly found tools that offer success in leadership roles. 

Register Today.

*Agenda subject to change

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 [ return to top ]

Upcoming Webinar: Preparing for the CPPB Written Exam

What To Expect
Thursday, June 19
1PM - 2:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Friday, June 13

Course Objectives:

•  Recognize key elements of the body of knowledge
•  Understand expectations and how to prepare
•  Define the contractual relationship between NIGP
   and the UPPCC

                                                   Presented by:

                                           

                      William J. Hertwig, Jr., CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P.

                                                  Register Today.  

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New Jersey Joins U.S. Communities Alliance With AutoZone Contract

Under its two-year contract with U.S. Communities, New Jersey will purchase auto parts at a 20 percent savings compared to the state's previous auto parts contracts.

Based on a projected purchase of auto parts for State fleet vehicles and equipment of $9 to $10 million in the next fiscal year, New Jersey is expected to save $1.5 to $2 million in fiscal year 2009 under the cooperative agreement.

In addition to the cost savings, the partnership with U.S. Communities provides advantages in ordering, delivery, customer service, quality and technology compared to the States's previous contracts.  Under the terms of the new contract, the auto parts will be supplied by AutoZone through a network of more than 60 stores through New Jersey.  The company will stock and operate an in-house AutoZone store for the Department of Transportation at no extra cost to the State, and has made commitments to deliver stocked parts to States agencies and local governments faster than under the former parts distribution model.

"New Jersey will receive substantial discounts on a selection of 850,000 automotive parts through this cooperative.  While these auto parts will help New Jersey's fleet of vehicles operate smoothly and efficiently, this partnership will help the state's procurement process work in the same manner," says Acting State Treasurer David Rousseau.

New Jersey's contract with U.S. Communities utilizes the auto parts contract competitively bid and awarded by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.  Details about the process, contract and accessing this contract are available at USC Auto Parts.  [ return to top ]

Award: Groomes Receives Jack T. Pitzer Rotary Public Service Scholarship

A six-year employee of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Kimberly Nicole Groomes, received the Jack T. Pitzer Rotary Public Service Scholarship.

Groomes was selected from among five Alexandria city employee applicants for the $2,000 scholarship. She intends to use the scholarship to study for a master’s degree in Acquisition Management.

Groomes has been employed by the City of Alexandria since 2002, and she is currently a Contract Administration Technician in the City’s Division of Purchasing.

The Scholarship is named after Jack T. Pitzer, Ph.D., CPPO, retired City of Alexandria Director of Procurement and past president of the Alexandria Rotary Club. It was established by the Rotary Club, colleagues and friends of Pitzer upon his retirement from city employment in December, 2006.

                               
(l to r):  Charles Ballou, chairman of the Alexandria Rotary Club vocational scholarship committee; Kimberly Nicole Groomes, recipient of the $2,000 scholarship; and Jack T. Pitzer, Ph.D., CPPO, retired Director of Procurement for the City of Alexandria and past president of the Alexandria Rotary Club.

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2008 Excellence Awards Program: National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council

eC3 invites you to submit a nomination for the 2008 eC3 Excellence Awards Program, which recognizes outstanding performance in newly implemented government programs.  These awards are presented each year at the eC3 annual conference to be held December 9-12 in Seattle, Washington.

Nominations are due no later than 5 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, September 10th.  Once received, a panel of judges will review all the submissions and announce a list of finalists by the end of October.  All finalists will be invited but not required to attend the eC3 conference.  Finalists will be given the opportunity to exhibit their project and share their lessons learned as part of conference workshops.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

•  Innovation in the use of social networking to enhance citizen
   involvement in government

•  Innovation in protecting the privacy and integrity of citizen information

•  Innovative use of the web in government management practices

Judging Criteria:

Each Nomination will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on the following criteria:

•  The scope and impact of the project
•  Innovation
•  Measurable results
•  Re-use of existing solutions
•  Usefulness to customers and/or citizens
•  The potential for replication in other governments or organizations
•  Extra credit will be given for the use of Web 2.0 collaboration
   tools in the development of the project

Questions or requests for additional information may be addressed to Danielle Germain, Director of eC3 via email at dgermain@agacgfm.org or via telephone at 703-562-0776.

UPPCC: Application Deadline Approaching For First-Computer-Based Exams

                   
     
Application Deadline:  Monday, July 21

The first computer-based certification exams will be offered during a six-day testing window, October 20-25, 2008, exclusively at Prometric testing centers. 

Prior application and registration is required.  Individuals who do not have a valid certification application on file with the UPPCC must apply by July 21 (or by August 4 with an additional late filng fee).

Testing dates, application and registration deadlines through May 2010 examinations are available at UPPCC Exam Schedule.

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