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Ohio named public
procurement model
--GSD Office of Procurement Services, December 2004

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) has presented its Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award to the DAS Office of Procurement Services. The award recognizes excellence in public purchasing through the establishment of standards for a solid procurement operation.

"The award and accreditation are recognition that Ohio is a model in public procurement," DAS Director Scott Johnson said.

The designation is highly sought and rarely bestowed. NIGP has more than 2,100 members at all levels of government throughout the United States and Canada, but only 81, including only one other state - Oklahoma -- have received this accreditation status.

Among the areas considered for the award are best practices, professional development, performance measurement, electronic commerce and cooperative purchasing. Ohio has made significant improvements in each of these areas as illustrated by the following:

Since 2001, NIGP has recognized Ohio for best practices five times.

DAS increased its professional requirements for purchasing personnel requiring most to earn their professional certification within three years from the date of hire.

Since 2001, more than 2,000 vendor representatives have attended monthly training sessions for new contract holders.

Redesigned in 2002, Ohio's procurement Web site -- www.ohio.gov/procure -- now averages more than 10,000 pages viewed per day.

Since 2002, more than 13,400 vendors have registered for an online service that alerts them of bid opportunities.

Since 1999, membership in Ohio's Cooperative Purchasing Program is up 48 percent.