National Associations Form Public Procurement Council

During the 61st Annual Forum and Products Exposition hosted by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), seven public-sector associations serving the public procurement and contracting profession agreed to serve as chartered signatories for a newly created federation of similarly-focused associations.

Since August 2005, officials from seven member-based, not-for-profit organizations serving public purchasing agencies and professionals have been meeting to craft a formal, collaborative agreement that binds these organizations to this newly established National Council for Public Procurement and Contracting (NCPPC). The national council is the vehicle for bringing the seven associations together to develop partnerships and programs that benefit their respective association members while influencing and promoting the value and recognition of the profession.

The seven chartered associations, which hold equal representation in the council, include:

California Association of Public Purchasing Officers (CAPPO)

Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers (FAPPO)

National Association of Education Procurement (NAEP)

National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO)

National Contract Management Association (NCMA)

National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP)

National Purchasing Institute (NPI).

The council’s mission is to augment the work of each member association by developing a collaborative network that promotes the public procurement and contracting profession through advocacy of public procurement principles; education, training and professional certification; applied research studies and activities; and marketing of the public procurement and contracting profession.

Following the first official meeting in August 2006, the council has set, as one of its top priorities, the development of a benchmark that assesses the impact of professional certification on compensation, ethics and corruption, formal education, promotional and advancement opportunities, and spending authority.

The next meeting of the council will be hosted by the CAPPO during their annual meeting in January 2007.