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Plano Purchasing Accorded Achievement of Excellence Award


Posted: August 23, 2005
 

The City of Plano Purchasing Division has been named the recipient of the National Purchasing Institute Achievement of Excellence (AEP) in Procurement award. While this coveted accolade brings honor to any organization, in Plano it is particularly noteworthy as the Division has brought home the honor not one, not five, not eight, but ten consecutive years!

In 1995 the National Procurement Institute (NPI) established a program designed to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement. This prestigious award is earned by those organizations that demonstrate excellence by obtaining a high score based on standardized criteria measuring innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement and leadership attributes of the procurement organization. Presented annually, it serves as a benchmark for organizational excellence in procurement nationwide.

“The AEP has representatives from six national purchasing organizations, participating in the program,” said Mike Ryan, Plano’s Chief Purchasing Officer. “Each organization has appointed two members who list the criteria and judge the applications. Plano is one of only a handful of agencies nationwide to have received the award every year since its inception. We are very proud of this achievement, which is the pre-eminent award in the nation for public procurement and the only major award supported by the six major national procurement organizations.”

Plano has long been a regional leader in purchasing initiatives from environmental responsibility through promotion of recycled material usage to regional cost-savings achieved through the development of a Collin County purchasing forum to utilizing the web for e-interaction, including electronic bidding and access to vendor databases.

A comprehensive online Bid Status listing includes current bidding opportunities, bids being evaluated, bids going to Council, current contract listings and bids awarded in prior years. Business certification requirements as well as comprehensive information on how to do business with the City of Plano Purchasing Division can also be found online as well as information about online surplus auctions.

The NPI was founded in 1968 to establish cooperative relationships among its members and to develop efficient purchasing methods and practices in procurement. It promotes the achievement of excellence in governmental and institutional procurement through education, certification and professional development and networking of its membership. Plano Purchasing Manager Diane Palmer, CPPB, serves as the NPI’s First Vice President.

Congratulations to Plano’s entire Purchasing team for their high levels of customer service and professionalism, as evidenced by this ten-year continuous accolade!