NIGP: enhancing the public purchasing profession.

• Author: Brinkman, J.E.
• Position: National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Inc. - State of the Art

In an age of enlightened consumers, public officials entrusted with purchasing the goods and services taxpayers need are under constant scrutiny. Taxpayers are increasingly aware of and concerned about how their money is spent. They demand not just the lowest bid but also the best value for their money while considering minority business participation, "buying green," and fair treatment to suppliers. Purchasing for the government customer is not a simple job that anyone can do but rather a complicated process that requires a high level of ability and advanced training to perform effectively.

A general business education is not adequate to prepare someone to be an effective public purchaser. An effective public purchasing professional must be part lawyer, part engineer, part economist, part accountant, part psychologist, and part administrator. Providing responsive customer service and buying the right product or service at the right time from the best source at the right price requires an individual who understands laws, regulations, purchasing methods, contracting, source selection, competitive bidding, negotiation, transportation, quality assurance, contract administration, tracking, and inventory management, while possessing the ability to write precise specifications and understand technical papers.

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (NIGP) provides the specific technical information and education for today's public procurement professional. NIGP was established in 1944 to provide education, professional certification, and technical assistance for those who spend taxpayers' dollars in Canada and the United States. Today, NIGP membership is comprised of purchasing agents from the federal government, cities, states, provinces, counties, colleges, libraries, hospitals, and other public agencies. Through a comprehensive series of educational seminars, certification programs, and a growing number of technical services, NIGP provides a wealth of support to purchasing specialists throughout North America.

Providing Timely Information

Professional development is only the beginning in the relationship between members and NIGP. Through the technical services department, which acts as a library for the latest public purchasing information, this relationship becomes a mutually supportive network. Technical assistance helps members solve problems without requiring them to reinvent the wheel. With a library of more than 30,000 public purchasing-related documents, the technical services staff can answer questions on almost any purchasing issue. Consulting on specific issues may be arranged through the technical services division of NIGP.

The Procurement Management Review program was developed to help purchasing departments become more efficient. A management audit team of experienced, certified purchasing professionals follows an established protocol for an operational review of the...