NIGP Board Adopts Strategic Agenda

Other Key Issues Decided During The Spring 2009 Board Meeting

The NIGP Board of Directors completed deliberations on several key strategic programs, appointments and governance issues during its Spring meeting in San Antonio – the host city for the Institute’s 2010 Forum and Products Exposition.

Strategic Agenda

The Board adopted three major goals for the Institute:

  1. Deliver a world-class educational curriculum balancing distance learning
      and traditional delivery models.
     
  2. Prescribe best practices, position papers, and develop an advocacy
      program that positions NIGP as the leading authority and resource
      for public procurement.
  
  3. Strengthen recognition of public procurement as a profession.
 
The Board directed the Chief Executive and staff to develop a business plan for proposed programs related to the new strategic goals.  In turn, the staff plans to seek the support and advice of the program committees in the development of the proposed programs.

Key Appointments and Elections

Bobbi Matthews, CPPO, CPPB, the Senior Manager of Administrative Services for the Port of Portland, Oregon since 2001, was elected by the Board as its Third Vice President effective July 2009.  Bobbi was first elected by the membership in 2007 to represent At-Large Seat 15 effective July 2007. In addition to her service on the NIGP Board, Bobbi has served on a variety of committees for both Oregon chapters of NIGP including Professional Development Chair for both chapters. In 2002-03, she led the Oregon Public Purchasing Association (OPPA) as its President. In 2004, Bobbi received NIGP’s Distinguished Service Award.  Bobbi will assume the NIGP presidency in 2012-13.

All current officers will advance to their new positions effective July 2009:

  •  President – Paul Brennan, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M.
  •  First Vice President – Ken Koester, CPPO, C.P.M., A.P.P.
  •  Second Vice President – Stephanie Creed, CPPO, CPPB
  •  Immediate Past President – Kirk Buffington, CPPO, C.P.M.

Key Decisions

Budget:  The Board adopted a reduced budget for FY10 (effective July 2009) which shrinks both revenues and expenses by 12%.  The primary reductions are due to a lower number of students participating in face-to-face, educational seminars.  There are no fee increases for the next fiscal year.

Strategic Partnerships:  The Board agreed to enter into a multi-year agreement with the Marriott Corporation to serve as the host hotel for three of the four NIGP Forums from 2013 to 2016.  The partnership provides financial benefits to the Institute, as well as offering cost avoidance opportunities by allowing for reduced attrition in the event NIGP cannot meet its room block obligations due to economic conditions.

2012 and 2013 Forums:  The Board selected Seattle, Washington as the host city for the 2012 NIGP Forum and Products Exposition.  The 2013 Forum will return to the Sunshine State – this time, to Orlando and the Marriott World Center Hotel and Convention Center.  These two selections complete the seven-year Forum rotational cycle that has been in place since 2007.  Effective 2014, the Board will select its host cities through a condensed, four-year cycle.

Centralized Registration for Educational Seminars:  Effective January 1, 2010, all NIGP Chapter Affiliates hosting NIGP seminars will be required to use NIGP’s complimentary centralized, online registration services to register class attendees.   The centralized registration process will allow NIGP to offer early registration discounts and multi-participant discounts for seminar registrations at some point in the future.

Forum: Need Help Explaining Why Travel Dollars Need To Be Spent on Forum?

95% of attendees surveyed felt the registration costs reflected the value they obtained by attending Forum.  These attendees said that the cost of Forum is recouped by more effective spending of taxpayer dollars, strengthened services, and operating efficiences.

...You and Your Agency Need To Be At Forum

When faced with less people and fewer resources, you certainly can't afford less procurement knowledge.  The public expects the same services from its government in good times and bad.  As a procurement professional, you need to know how to meet those expectations.  Especially now, making sound, practical decisions for the good of the agency and the public you serve is critical.  Doing so requires that you are familiar with the most effective practices and tips at work in the field.

To help you convince the powers that be to budget for Forum, NIGP has created this Forum Value position paper.  If you would like us to email or mail this paper to the person who controls the purse strings in your organization, please email executive@nigp.org We will need the name, title and appropriate address information. 

You and your agency can—and should—be at the forefront of procurement, making a difference through decisive, effective purchasing programs.  Five days of intensive professional training, networking activities, product exhibits and knowledge sharing will elevate your professional opportunities as you elevate your community and the public you serve.

Forum:  You and Your Agency Need It.


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Forum: 2009 Executive Leadership Series

...Back by popular demand

Join the 2009 Executive Leadership Series (ELS) – a conference within a conference.  The ELS features sessions devoted to help you move beyond the operation of procurement to the change required to innovate and advance procurement.  Dedicate nine hours of your Forum experience to expand your awareness of the issues and practices that will make you a leader in your organization and your profession. 

The ELS sessions are led by John Schuster, CMC, a mentor and coach, whose expertise is leadership.  John is owner of The Schuster Kane Alliance, known for connecting soft people skills with hard business results. He has a passion: helping professionals build the leadership and social capital in their organizations necessary to successfully execute strategies on behalf of customers and shareholders.  He has led engagements in every sector of the economy and on four continents. His interests are executive teams that work, corporate cultures that execute strategy, and leaders that inspire and bring out the best in others.

ELS topics include Change, Surviving Change, Setting Goals, Personal Leadership Styles and Teams.  Seating is limited. 

View the ELS schedule, session topics and apply for attendance today.


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Forum: FREE Things To See and Do In St. Louis

Want to take advantage of the sights and sounds of the City?  Go for it!  These are just some of the FREE things to do and see while in St. Louis.

NIGP invites you to the city made famous by a heroic aviator and a plane that took its name, an iconic arch and – dare we say – the “King of Beers” and home of the Blues.  With a history over 300 years old, St. Louis is rich in cultural heritage, community spirit and family-friendly attractions.

St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park

The St. Louis Zoo is rated #1 according to Zagat
and features more than 5,000 exotic animals, many
of them rare and endangered.   The city of St. Louis
set aside 77 acres in Forest Park for a zoo and named
a Zoological Board in 1913.  State legislation provided
that "the zoo shall be forever free," which has kept the
zoo accessible to millions of visitors ever since.

Open every day from 9a.m. to 5p.m.  Some attractions require a fee.

Walk of Fame

The St. Louis Walk of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to honor well-known people from St. Louis who made contributions to cultural heritage.  The Walk of Fame consists of sets of brass stars and bronze plaques honoring those individuals. 

Among those honored on the St. Louis Walk of Fame are:

•  Acting:  Phyllis Diller, Buddy Ebsen, Redd Foxx, John Goodman, Betty Grable,
   Kevin Kline, Virginia Mayo, Agnes Moorehead, Vincent Price and Shelley Winters

•  Music:  Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Johnnie Johnson, Leonard Slatkin, 
   Willie Mae Ford Smith, Clark Terry, Grace Bumbry and Tina Turner

•  Sports:  James "Cool Papa" Bell, Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson,
   Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst

Anheuser Busch Brewery

Take a complimentary tour of the world's largest brewery. 
Your tour will guide you through a blend of rich brewing
heritage, state-of-the-art technology and extraordinary
architecture.  Visit the historic Budweiser Clydesdale
Stable, Beechwood Lager Cellars, historic Brew House
and Bevo Packaging Facility.

The Old Courthouse

St. Louis' Old Courthouse is listed in the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.  The Network to Freedom
recognizes sites, programs and facilities with verifiable associations to the
Underground Railroad.  The Old Courthouse is linked with the story of the
Underground Railroad, and with that of slavery, as a property associated with
legal challenges to slavery.  It was a public forum as well as a courthouse. 
Slaves were auctioned from its steps in estate settlements, while one man's
suit for freedom helped plunge the country into Civil War.

Visit NIGP's FREE St. Louis  to see what's free in the beautiful city and host of the 64th Annual Forum.

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Attention Chapters: Forum Chapter Leadership Symposium Created Just For You

Saturday, August 22
8a.m. to 4p.m.

If you are a NIGP Chapter leader or aspire to become one, you don’t want to miss out on this valuable learning opportunity!

Here's what you can expect from this pre-Forum symposium:

•  Identify the key legal issues affecting chapters
•  Learn options for generating chapter revenues
•  Discover critical elements to include in a chapter website
•  Develop way to successfully promote your chapter
•  Find creative ways to get volunteers to commit
•  Participate in networking opportunities with other chapter leaders.

Facilitated by: Belinda Reutter, CMP, Director of Member Services, NIGP, and Jennifer Steffan, Chapter Relations Manager, NIGP

Register today.  For additional information, call Michael Romero, CEM, NIGP Events Coordinator at 800-367-6447 x248 or email mromero@nigp.org.

Professional Development: June Courses

NIGP's unique approach to curriculum development ensures that learning experiences are grounded in practical experience and seasoned by insights from the academic community.  Here's what's coming in June:

June

Adding Value to the Procurement Process
Date:  June 10
Location:  Olympia, Wash.
Instructor:  Darin L. Matthews, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Washington State Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Cathleen F. Robinson, CPPB
206-801-2321
crobinso@ci.shoreline.wa.us

Date:  June 22
Location:  Miami, Fla.
Instructor:  Michael E. Bevis, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Greater Miami Chapter of NIGP, Inc.
Registration contact:  Joe V. Rodriguez, CPPB
305-460-5121
jrodriguez2@coralgables.com

Contract Administration
Date:   June 1-3
Location:  Tallahassee, Fla.
Instructor:  Steven K. Updike, CPPB, FCPA, FCCM, FCN
Hosted by:  Florida Department of Management Services
Registration contact:  Cyndee Sams, FCCN, FCCM
850-921-0266
Cyndee.Sams@dms.myflorida.com

Date:  June 3-5
Location:  Columbia, S.C.
Instructors:  Norma J. Hall, CPPO, CPPB, CPM, and Christine W. Campbell, CPPO, C.P.P.
Hosted by:  South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Norma J. Hall, CPPO, CPPB, CPM
803-737-0642
nhall@mmo.sc.gov

Date:  June 8-10
Location:  West Chester, Penn.
Instructor:  Sally C. Barkley, CPPO, C.P.M., M.B.A.
Hosted by:  Pennsylvania Public Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Robert B. Dopira, CPPB
610-278-3037
rdopira@montcopa.org

Date:  June 10-12
Location:  Houston, Texas
Instructor:  Sharon T. Gentry, CPPB, VCO, A.P.P.
Hosted by:  National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (NIGP)
Registration contact:  Patrice Freeman
800-367-6447 x276
pfreeman@nigp.org

Developing and Managing Request for Proposals
Date:  June 8-10
Location:  Albany, N.Y.
Instructor:  Ronald L. King, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
Hosted by:  New York State Office of General Services
Registration contact:  Trenton Graham
518-473-3716
Trenton.Graham@ogs.state.ny.us

Date:  June 15-17
Location:  Columbia, Mo.
Instructor:  Alan H. Culpeper, CPPO, VCO
Hosted by:  Missouri Association of Public Purchasing Chapter of NIGP
Registraton contact:  Peggy A. Quisenberry

573-882-9215
quisenberryp@umsystem.edu

Effective Contract Writing
Date:  June 25-26
Location:  Bartow, Fla.
Instructor:  C "Moty" Torres, MSPA, JO
Hosted by:  Mid-Florida Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Corey Murphy, CPPB
813-272-4372
corey.murphy@sdhc.k12.fl.us

Effective Management of Construction Contracts
Date:  June 19
Location:  Toronto, Ontario
Instructor:  Aaron D. Howell, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Ontario Public Buyers Association, Inc. Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Gord J. Sears, CPPB
905-953-5335
gsears@newmarket.ca

Ethics: A Survival Kit for Public Procurement
Date:  June 2
Location:  Orlando, Fla.
Instructor:  Mary “Jane” Lopez, CPPO
Hosted by:  Florida Virtual School
Registration contact:  Cathy L. Brown
407-513-3333
cbrown@flvs.net

Date:  June 5
Location:  Austin, Texas
Instructor:  Mary “Jane” Lopez, CPPO
Hosted by:  Texas Association of Public Purchasers Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Ann Tillman, CTPM, CPIM
512-867-7160
ann.tillman@ers.state.tx.us

Introduction to Public Procurement
Date:  June 1-3
Location:  St. Peters, Mo.
Instructor:  Mark D. Hutchison, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  St. Louis Metro Area Public Purchasing Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Diana L. Schoo, CPPB, C.P.M.
636-922-8387
dschoo@stchas.edu

Date:  June 3-5
Location:  Plano, Texas
Instructor:  Frederick Marks, CPPO, VCO
Hosted by:  Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Cynthia L. White, CPPO, CPPB
972-758-3871
clwhite@ccccd.edu

Date:  June 3-5
Location:  Chicago, Ill.
Instructor:  Robin J. Rickard,  CPPO, OPBC
Hosted by:  National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (NIGP)
Registration contact:  Michael Romero, CEM
800-367-6447 x248
mromero@nigp.org

Date:  June 10-12
Location:  Jacksonville, Fla.
Instructor:  Frank L. Pierce, CPPO, CPPB
Hosted by:  North Florida Procurement Association of NIGP
Registration contact:  Kristen L. Collora
386-313-4062
kcollora@flaglercounty.org

Legal Aspects of Public Procurement
Date:  June 3-5
Location:  Jackson, Miss.
Instructors:  Myra D. Smith, CPPB, and Suzette Moore, CPPO, CPPB
Hosted by:  Mississippi Association of Governmental Purchasing and Property Agents Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Justin Dean Stepp
601-359-7450
jstepp@mdot.state.ms.us

Date:  June 3-5
Location:  Minneapolis, Minn.
Instructor:  Jennie E. Readey, CPPO, CPPB
Hosted by:  Minnesota Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Susan M. Groth, CPPB
651-675-4481
Susan.Groth@state.mn.us

Date:  June 22-24
Location:  Ocala, Fla.
Instructor:  James H. Davis, CPPO,  M.B.A.
Hosted by:  Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers, Inc.
Registration contact:  Carrie F. Woodell, CPPB, CFCM, C.P.M., A.P.P.
407-599-3434
cwoodell@cityofwinterpark.org

Date:  June 24-26
Location:  Aurora, Colo.
Instructor:  Jennie E. Readey, CPPO, CPPB
Hosted by:  Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chaptyer of NIGP
Registration contact:  Sherri Gibson
303-245-5941
sherri.gibson@bvsd.org

Managing Your End Users and Suppliers: It's All About Relationships
Date:  June 18
Location:  Fishersville, Va.
Instructor:  Michael E. Bevis, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Katherine V. Gordon, CPPB
703-257-8327
ggordon@ci.manassas.va.us

Performance Based Request for Proposals
Date:  June 1-2
Location:  Winter Park, Fla.
Instructor:  Susan L. Fitzgerald, CPPO, M.P.A., C.P.M., PMP
Hosted by:  Central Florida Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Carrie F. Woodell, CPPB, CFCM, C.P.M., FCCN
407-599-3434
cwoodell@cityofwinterpark.org

Planning, Scheduling and Requirement Analysis
Date:  June 16-18
Location:  New York, N.Y.
Instructor:  Alan C. Bodine, CPPO, CPPB
Hosted by:  New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Registration contact:  Ellen E. Lee
212-487-5943
elee@dcas.nyc.gov

Sourcing in the Public Sector
Date:  June 24-26
Location:  Washington, D.C.
Instructor:  Myra D. Smith, CPPB
Hosted by:  Metropolitan Washington Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Adele E. Smith, CPPB
212-724-4960
Adele.SMith@dc.gov

World Class Performance Practice
Date:  June 3
Location:  Grand Junction, Colo.
Instructor:  Michael E. Bevis, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Danielle L. Hinz, CPPO, C.P.M.
303-651-8494
Danielle.hinz@ci.longmont.co.us

Date:  June 18
Location:  Toronto, Ontario
Instructor:  Darin L. Matthews, CPPO, C.P.M.
Hosted by:  Ontario Public Buyers Association, Inc. Chapter of NIGP
Registration contact:  Gord J. Sears, CPPB
905-953-5335
gsears@newmarket.ca

To register for a seminar, or for local information, please contact the seminar coordinator listed.  All seminars are conducted from 8AM to 5PM, except as noted.  If you are interested in hosting a seminar in your area, please email events@nigp.org or call Patrice Freeman at 800-367-6447 x276 or Michael Romero, CEM, at 800-367-6447 x248.
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NIGP Products Tied to Certification Success

An evaluation of post-certification exam statistics provided to the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing by the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council indicates a positive correlation between candidate utilization of NIGP certification preparation products and certification exam success.

In a comparison of certification candidates who took the first computer-based CPPO and CPPB examinations offered in October 2008, the overall pass rate of candidates who employed NIGP certification preparation support products surpassed by 20% the overall pass rate of those who did not utilize these same products.

Candidate Group A:    82% overall passing rate
(Used NIGP certification preparation products)

Candidate Group B:    62% overall passing rate
(Did not use NIGP certification preparation products)

Rick Grimm, NIGP Chief Executive, observed, “This substantial difference in success rates is a clear indicator of the value, effectiveness and real support these tools can provide to certification candidates.  The true measure of success, of course, is the recognition and elevation achieved by these newly certified professionals through their great achievement.”

NIGP’s Cert Prep Central suite of certification preparation products include online assessments; seminars; Webinars; study timeline; group study guide; and CPPO and CPPB Certification Preparation texts.  In addition, all NIGP-published texts support the profession’s body of knowledge as outlined by the UPPCC.

For more details about Cert Prep products, visit www.nigp.org/certprep.  For more information about the UPPCC or the October 2008 exam statistics, visit www.uppcc.org.

REMINDER:  UPPCC EXAM DATES:  MAY 3-8.

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Two Upcoming Webinars: Dealing With Difficult Vendors & The Basics of Contractual Risk

Dealing with Difficult Vendors, End Users and Annoying People
Thursday, May 14
1PM to 2:30 PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Friday, May 8

Course Objectives: 

•  Learn how to bring out the best behavior in difficult 
   people in your working and personal environment 
•  Discover innovative approaches to deal with these difficult people

                                           Presented by:
                                     
            Alan H. Culpeper, CPPO, VCO, Culpeper County, Virginia

                                         Register Today


__________________________

Contractual Risk Transfer and Insurance - The Basics
Tuesday, May 19
1PM to 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Wednesday, May 13

Course Objectives:

•  Consider the process of transferring risk for contracted goods
   or services and hold harmless agreements as well as assessing
   their effectiveness
•  Specify the correct type of insurance to best protect your agency
•  Confirm what you need to receive from the insurance company
   and how to attain it

                                         Presented by
                                 
                         Marcus Beverly, CPCU, AIC, ARM-P
      Risk Manager for the Association of Bay Area Governments

                                       Register Today


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Member News: Km Ra Receives Miami-Dade County Purchasing Professional of the Year Award

During March, nationally recognized as Purchasing Month, the Miami Dade County Department of Procurement Management (DPM) named Km Ra, Sr. Procurement Contracting Agent, as the winner of the 1st Annual Purchasing Professional of the Year.

Staff was invited to base their nominations on the candidate’s ability to effectively promote fair and open competition; provide excellent customer service to client department and vendors; and the demonstration of ethical behavior and honesty in performing responsibilities. A committee of three collected the nominations, obtained the last two years' evaluations for each candidate and selected the winner from a list of nine nominees. Two hours administrative leave was awarded to every nominee and the winner received a cash award of $500 and 8 hours administrative leave.

Km Ra, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M. was recommended as the 2009 Purchasing Professional of the Year by four of his colleagues because he exemplifies all of the qualities of a Procurement professional. Km Ra is assigned some of the most complex and high profile contracts awarded by DPM and uses his expertise and skills in market research to bring the greatest value to the citizens of Miami-Dade County. One such contract is the County’s fuel contract. He is an expert on the fuel commodity, the fuel industry and the market conditions that affect fuel prices. Through his expertise, he was able to successfully award a fuel contract generating over a $1 million savings to the County.

Km Ra demonstrates excellent customer service skills to client departments and vendors, as well as to staff that he interacts with in DPM and he carries out his responsibilities with the utmost integrity and professionalism on a daily basis. Some of the characteristics used to describe him included; willing to offer a helping hand; team player; extremely knowledgeable; no nonsense; diligent in completing assignments; meticulous; accurate; a well rounded and seasoned professional; exemplary Sr. Procurement Contracting Agent. Km Ra was unanimously selected by the committee to be the 2009 Procurement Professional of the Year. Km Ra is a tremendous asset to Miami-Dade County and a true example of excellence in government.

Miami-Dade County has over 30,000 employees serving 2.3 million residents.  DPM awards contracts for  goods and services valued in excess of $1.4 billion annually to support countywide operations. The Department manages vendor relations for over 16,000 vendors.  With a current staff complement of 116 positions, DPM manages in excess of 1,400 active contracts valued at over $5 billion.

For information on Miami-Dade County’s Department of Procurement Management, please contact Miriam Singer’s office at 305-375-5289 or visit  www.miamidade.gov/dpm.

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Resource Library: Public Agency Satisfaction Survey Comparison Reports Now Available - FREE

NIGP's Purchasing Agency Satisfaction Survey is the beginning foundation for effectively reviewing your agency and is also the first step to achieving agency accrediation.

Our Resource Library currently features new PASS 2007 and 2008 Comparison Reports for:

•  Authorities
•  Cities
•  Counties
•  Higher Education
•  K-12
•  State Agencies

Discover the overall satisfaction with the quality of your service; how efffectively you communicate procurement processes; your accessibility; responsiveness; ability to provide effective solutions; quality of good and services procured; and professionalism.  These are just a few of the survey questions - you may be surprised at some of the results.

PASS Comparison Reports are FREE to NIGP Members.  For more information about this assessment tool, contact Tina M. Borger, CPPO, NIGP Research Director at 800-367-6447 x261 or email research@nigp.org.



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Call for Submissions: Innovations Award and OA4 Award - NEW CRITERIA

All public purchasing agencies are invited to submit entries for the 2009 NIGP Innovations in Public Procurement Award and apply for the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award (OA4).  These programs recognize NIGP member agencies who lead the way in public procurement by enacting policies and practices that have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of their agency. 

Innovations Award

NIGP confers this award to a governmental entity that has developed a new, distinct, and forward thinking approach to any aspect of public procurement.  Innovations developed or completed after January 2008 are eligible for submission.  Submissions are due by Friday, May 15 and the winning submission will be selected by June 1.  The winner will have the opportunity to showcase the innovative program during NIGP's Forum to be held August 22-26, 2009 in St. Louis. 

Letter submissions shall be emailed to Tina M. Borger, CPPO at tborger@nigp.org and shall be no longer than 3 pages.  Submissions shall include a summary of the program describing the innovation, how it contributes to the public procurement practice or profession, how it increases procurement’s value to the organization, how it demonstrates procurement collaboration with stakeholders to create innovative solutions, and how it redefines the manner in which public procurement operates.

OA4 Award - New Criteria

Agency accreditation, similar to individual certification, reflects your entity’s achievement of professional competency and earns the immediate respect of all who interact with your procurement department.  NIGP’s OA4 Award recognizes agencies that lead the public procurement profession through the implementation of best practices.  Through a self-evaluation process using the recently updated NIGP Agency Accreditation Criteria Form, agencies meeting the minimum requirements receive accreditation for three years.

We’ve updated the OA4 evaluation criteria to reflect these operational elements:

•  Focus on procurement agency mission, values and mission statements
•  Emergency preparedness and continuity of operations
•  Responsibility for joint operations
•  Formal delegated purchasing programs with mandatory training
•  Procurement authority for architectural, engineering, and construction
   services including involvement in the selection of the project
   delivery method
•  Availability of solicitations online and other web features as well as the
   use of push technology to issue solicitations

Applications are accepted year-round, however, if you would like to receive recognition for receiving this professional agency accreditation at the upcoming Forum, please submit your application by Monday, June 1.  For more information and to download the application and criteria form, visit OA4.

If you have any questions regarding these two awards, please contact Tina M. Borger, CPPO, at tborger@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447 x261.

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