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Adopt and present a resolution recognizing March 2025 as the month-long celebration of Public Procurement Month in Solano County (Supervisor Vasquez)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt and present a resolution recognizing March 2025 as the month-long celebration of Public Procurement Month in Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Each March, Public Procurement Month serves as a time to celebrate and recognize the importance of procurement in achieving organizational goals. Procurement professionals are integral to local government, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing relationships with suppliers and contractors to secure the best value, while maintaining quality and compliance standards.
While March is designated as Public Procurement Month, March 13 specifically honors Professional Buyer’s Day, a time to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and expertise of Solano County’s Purchasing Services Team. These professionals work diligently behind the scenes to ensure the efficient operation of our supply chain and the acquisition of goods and services, while protecting public funds through responsible bid evaluation, contract negotiation, and supplier performance management. The Purchasing Services Team prioritizes transparency, fairness, and accountability, preventing waste, fraud, and misuse of resources, ensuring every dollar spent contributes to the success of public services and programs.
Over the past fiscal year, the Purchasing Services Team successfully transitioned to a fully automated, web-based electronic bidding and vendor management system. This new platform enhances stakeholder transparency, cultivates marketing opportunities for both the County and businesses, promotes open collaboration, and improves reporting capabilities.
The Purchasing Services Team spent the year refining processes and procedures while actively engaging in industry associations such as the National Procurement Institute, the California Association of Public Procurement Officials, the National Association of Educational Procurement, the National Association of State Procurement Officials, and the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council, among others.
Building on their successes, the Team applied for and received the prestigious Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) award for 2024. This annual award, presented by the National Procurement Institute, recognizes organizations that demonstrate excellence based on criteria such as innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership. The AEP program encourages ongoing development and improvement within procurement organizations, motivating them to earn the award annually.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with preparing this agenda item is nominal and included in the department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. There is no additional financial impact on the County as a result of recognizing March as Public Procurement Month.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to adopt the resolution; however, this alternative is not recommended as this month is an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of the procurement professionals.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Procurement Team thanks Megan Callaway with County Counsel for her ongoing guidance and contributions toward the success of the Team, the Auditor’s Controller’s Office for their continued assistance with Financial Enterprise, and the County departments for their partnership.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION