Discuss and take appropriate action on proclaiming the month of March 2023 as Purchasing Month and recognizing the Purchasing Department as a recipient of the 2022 Achievement of Excellence in Public Procurement Award by the National Procurement Institute (NPI).

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) has proclaimed the month of March as Purchasing Month for the awareness of the purchasing professional's role in supporting government officials. Please see proclamation as attached. In addition, the Williamson County Purchasing Department received the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for 2022 recognizing the Department as one of the top organizations at all levels of public purchasing (city, county, school district, state, higher education and non-profits) in the country, being one of 44 agencies in Texas and one of 36 counties in the nation. The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award is nationally and internationally recognized as the gold standard for the achievement of customer service, innovation and best practices in the profession of public procurement. The 2022 award represents the 23rd consecutive year that Williamson County has achieved this prestigious honor and recognition.  The award criteria have evolved since the award’s inception to reflect changes that have occurred in areas such as technology, while maintaining the high standards and insistence on public procurement best practices.  In 1995, the National Procurement Institute, Inc. (NPI) established this program designed to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement. The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) is awarded annually. This award is earned by those organizations that demonstrate excellence by obtaining a high score based on standardized criteria. The criteria are designed to measure Innovation, Professionalism, Productivity, E-procurement, and Leadership attributes of the procurement organization.  National and international sponsors include: the National Procurement Institute (NPI), the California Association of Public Procurement Officials (CAPPO), the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO), the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the National Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP), the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP), the Texas Public Purchasing Association (TxPPA), and the Canadian Public Procurement Council (CPPC).

Additionally, the Williamson County Purchasing Department wishes to recognize county employees who have made a positive impact on the purchasing profession by being excellent team players. The following employees are being recognized for their support of the County’s Purchasing Policy and processes:
Diane Ostolaza, Payroll; Gaynelle Flagg, ITS; Julie Kiley, County Auditor; Julie Wassink, ITS; Karen Knightstep, Accounts Payable; Keith Geer, Parks; Linda Gunter, Animal Shelter; Mary Johnson, SO; Michelle Kleen, ITS Mike Knipstein, EMS; Rebecca Pruitt, County Judge's Office; Shantil Moore, Facilities; Vikki Farrow, Elections; Danette Chamberlain, HNTB;

Purchasing is also hosting it's second annual Vendor Forum on March 30, 2023, from 9AM to 12PM at the Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626 with workshops on various purchasing topics. Flyer is attached.