A Message from the CEO

NIGP understands that we are facing a challenging time in the economic history of our country and the global community.  Every day, our dedicated members, friends and colleagues must make difficult decisions driven by budgetary demands.  During these times, the value and relevance of public procurement can truly make a difference to the agency’s bottom line.

At times of financial restraint, the importance of communities of professional support shines brightest. On behalf of NIGP, let me emphasize how much we value your membership, loyalty and continued reliance on us for your professional support.

As you navigate this uncertain period, you can be certain that NIGP will continue to be your guiding light and do whatever it takes to help develop, support and promote you and your special talents and abilities as we face the future together.

Thank you for all you do.



Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB
NIGP Chief Executive Officer

PREP News: DHS Awards $63 Million in Emergency Preparedness Grants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the grant awards to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities under the new Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Grant Program and the new Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP).

More than $14.5 million in fiscal year 2008 EOC grant awards will help address identified deficiencies and needs in order to support flexible, sustainable, secure and interoperable EOCs.  Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state, local and tribal levels are essential to a comprehensive national emergency management system, ensuring community of both operations and government in major disasters, whether natural or man-made.

The fiscal year 2008 awards $48.5 million to improve interoperable emergency communications for response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters.  IECGP funding will assist states and territories in implementing their components of Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan and aligning priorities with the goals outlined in the National Emergency Communcations Plan.

Fiscal year 2008 EOC Grant Program funds are to be used over a 36-month period for EOC construction projects, and are limited to $1 million for new construction or $250,000 for renovation projects, and one project per facility.  Twenty states and jurisdictions were awarded funds for projects at 22 facilities.  Grantees were required to meet a 25 percent cost share cash or in-kind match requirement.

For more information on the EOC and IECGP grant programs, visit www.fema.gov/grants.
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Industry News: Stretching IT Dollars

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers has released a report detailing how states use new and innovative ways to stretch IT funding during tight budget times.

The report, "Innovative Funding for State IT: Models, Trends & Perspectives", is based on findings from a national survey of state CIOs that examines states' use of innovative or alternative funding models for information technology projects.

According to Rico Singleton, deputy CIO of New York and working co-chair, "states are utilizing new and innovative ways of stretching their state IT dollars to continue to provide their constituents with valuable service in an environment where state agencies increasingly have to compete for scarce revenue dollars.  It is our hope that this report will serve as a useful tool..."

Source:  Government Technology.

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Upcoming Webinar: Contract Administration...

A Plan for Success
Tuesday, October 14
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Wednesday, October 8

Course Objectives:

•  Learn different methods of contract administration
•  Discover planning techniques to administer the contract
•  Understand how to monitor and record the success of
   the contract and the contractor

                                                Presented by:
                                          
                                        Robin J. Rickard, CPPO

                                               Register Today 
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Enterprise Contract Management Web Event from IBM

 Did you know?

•  Contract automation could accelerate 
   negotiation cycles by 50%, reduce erroneous 
   payments by 75-90%, and cut operating and 
   processing costs associated with managing 
   contracts by 10-30%. (Goldman Sachs)

•  81% of Global 2000 companies had difficulty finding contracts;
   75% listed contractual risk as a major area of concern; and
   61% had no idea of the interdependencies among their contracts. 
   (Journal of Contract Management)

•  Organizations could realize savings that equate to 2% of total annual
   costs by eliminating inaccuracies and non-compliance through
   improved contract management.  (Pricewaterhouse Coopers)

How does this affect you?

Join these featured speakers for an educational live webcast as they explain the six key ways to improve your contract process.   Register Today.

                       
                       
                        
                         Omri Duek                                  Dan Bigos
               Senior Research Analyst        Director of Industry Marketing
                      Info Trends, Inc.       IBM Enterprise Content Management

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Omri Duek is the Senior Research Analyst for the Dynamic Content Software Strategies Group at Info Trends, Inc., the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and documents solution industry.  He provides research, analysis, briefings, and consulting on the markets for software and services within enterprise environments.  Mr. Duek produces Info Trends' annual document and content management forecast, industry trend analysis, strategic assessments, and manages primary vendor, channel and end-user research studies.  Omri has also published a variety of industry research, best practices, white papers and analysis reports focused on enterprise content management and enterprise-class technology solutions.

Dan Bigos is the Director of Industry Marketing for Horizontal Applications, IBM's Enterprise Content Management Group(ECM).  ECM specializes in helping the world's leading companies and government agencies streamline and automate their business processes, access and manage all forms of content and automate records management to help meet compliance needs.  He is an authority on how enterprise content management can enable organizations to more competently, efficiently and cost-effectively manage the increasing volumes of documents and complexity of processes associated with contract management.  Dan has over 12 years of experience in enterprise content management and business process management technologies and solutions.

*Coupled with NIGP's Webinar, "Contract Administration: A Plan for Success," you will broaden your understanding of the automated systems available that strengthen your effectiveness as a contract manager.

                               
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/content-management/industry-solutions/contract-lifecycle.html





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Research Results: The Flexibility of P-Card Programs

According to NIGP’s 2007 Benchmark Report, 70% of members use the flexibility of P-card programs to implement a program that best meets their regulations, needs, and culture. 

What department is responsible for administering the p-card program?

•  Procurement (64%)
•  Accounting/Accounts Payable (20%)
•  Procurement AND Accounting (16%)

The fact that Procurement and Accounting jointly administer the program is
not surprising since since P-Cards are both a purchase and a payment method.

What is the amount of the average transaction limit?

•  Single transaction limits are as low as $150 and as high as $100,000
•  Mean average transaction limit is $4,140
•. Most common transaction limit is $1,000 (24%)

It should be noted that transaction limits of  $2,500 and $5,000 follow closely behind with 21% and 20% respectively. 

What is the monthly maximum transaction limit?

•  Range from $1,000 to $1 million
•  Mean average is $27,916
•  Most common monthly transaction limit is $5,000 (almost one-third of
   reporting jurisdictions)

However, $10,000 is used by 28% and another 15% limit monthly transactions per card to $25,000.

How many transactions are made annually on p-card programs?

•  Mean average number of annual transactions is 26,807
•  Average transaction amount is $462

These benchmark findings illustrate the flexibility of p-card programs.  With a $462 average transaction amount – a small purchase for almost everyone - p-cards are a flexible way to handle small purchases and payments.

For more P-Card and other benchmark data, visit www.nigp.org.   You will find the complete 2007 Benchmark Report under Research Studies in the Members Only section.
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Forum Survey Results: Here's What You Had To Say

                             
           
  

We are pleased to announce an overwhelming majority, (92%), of member survey respondents said that the 2008 Forum met their overall expectations.

In fact, the survey shows that NIGP members are serious about their profession and attending Forum, 6% have attended Forum for ten consecutive years!  A record of some sort. On the other side of the spectrum, First-Timers, 89% felt comfortable and welcome at Forum and 91% would recommend Forum to others who have never attended before.

NIGP's Forum also received high marks on the ease of registration, social functions, networking events, Products Exposition as well as workshop session topics.  92% of attendees felt the topics were pertinent to their business needs.

Thank you for participating in NIGP's Forum member survey and for being a part of NIGP.

The 2008 Forum Member Survey was sent to 1,166 Forum attendees and 58% or 679 responded.  

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Shaping the Future: A Public Procurement Career Kit

NIGP recognizes the importance of drawing young talent to our profession.  To help grow the awareness of public procurement among university students and help them discover the rewards of a career in our public service community, NIGP created a Career in Public Procurement Information Kit.  

The career kit is a multi-media presentation offering an overview introduction to the profession, video testimony from current practitioners, flyers for posting to increase awareness of the public procurement profession, and an invitation for university students to take advantage of the networking, research and financial aid tools made possible by NIGP.

Through video segments, NIGP members speak about the opportunities and benefits of a career in public procurement:

•  Influencing the community and the world
•  Maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars
•  Reflecting the highest ethical principles

Highlights from the kit and video downloads can be found at www.nigp.org/goprocareers.   If you would like to receive one or more kits for your agency, email membershipinfo@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447 x223.  

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