Education: NIGP Seminar Descriptions

2-Day Seminars

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Traditionally contract disputes have been resolved either through the government dispute process or through litigation. This course examines other approaches collectively known as "alternative dispute resolution" (ADR), overviewing the long history of ADR, the elements of ADR, and its advantages and disadvantages. The four major ADR approaches—negotiation, mediation, arbitration and mini-trial—are each described in terms of their processes, procedures and appropriate uses. The course will address the role of ethics in the use of ADR. It will also consider how to establish an ADR program in an agency and how to build ADR language into solicitations and contracts. Read more

Capital Acquisitions
As procurement professionals we must focus on enterprise and strategic planning [and] recognize that far greater value can be achieved through strategic procurement planning than through routine order placing. Capital expenditures represent one-third of the total expense budgets of state and local governments. Given this significant investment of government resources, how does the responsible public procurement agent ensure that a long-term best value solution is obtained? Read more

Change Management for the Procurement Professional
The existing procurement environment requires the professional to be current with the latest technology, management theories, and ever-changing governing bodies. The procurement specialist must deal with the challenges of management changes, organizational structures, responsibilities, and software systems while continuing to get the job done effectively. Read more

Contracting for Public Sector Services
Faced with the challenge of identifying best value, can the public procurement professional successfully engage partners to achieve efficiency, effectiveness and the social goals of the community? Call it privatization, outsourcing, competitive tendering, or alternative service delivery, contracting for public sector services dominates contract spending at all levels of government in countries around the world. This course examines the process beginning from the decision whether to "make or buy" through the special considerations of the services RFP, the contract award and contract administration. Read more

Customer Service: The Key to Success in Procurement
Every procurement professional should understand the value of providing excellent service. This seminar is designed to offer tips on this critical issue. It will identify ways to effectively improve how quality service can be delivered. Read more

Effective Contract Writing
Many purchasing professionals are required to organize, write and interpret contracts. This session is designed to cover the structure and meaning of enforceable contracts. Contracts have a logical sequence and specific contract provisions. By learning the basics and rules for improvement, the principles become manageable. The seminar will offer tips and tricks on the language that can be used when writing contracts for any entity.
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Fundamentals of Leadership & Management in Public Procurement
Designed to examine leadership and management issues regularly faced by public sector professionals, this course will focus on topics of motivation, decision making, communication, conflict management, group dynamics, and organizational change, with more attention being paid as to how these issues relate. Such discussions of theory with practical application are intended to improve an organization's effectiveness when considering the professional. Read more

Get What You Need Through Successful Negotiation Strategies
This seminar will introduce students to some of the best principles used in negotiating. It will cover characteristics of a good negotiator; critical elements in every negotiation, basic strategies, tactics used for and against you, how to overcome negative attacks, and especially how to read the other person. You will learn how to create a win-win situation. Read more

Inventory & Warehousing Control
Public priorities don't always wait for the supply chain to react to needs. In addition, budgets are too tight for "just in case" inventories waiting for policy-makers to decide whether to install more "children at play signs" or provide additional environmentally-friendly trash bags at parks. How does today's procurement professional proactively prepare to satisfy client needs? One answer may be an effective warehouse and inventory control system. This course focuses on optimizing the development/management/maintenance of a supply chain that includes a warehousing and inventory management strategy. It enables the procurement professional to gain command of the key elements of a successful operation and provides a guide to complementing procurement activities with prudent inventory management techniques. Can these concepts help your procurement function add value to meet often unpredictable demands? Check it out! Read more

Logistics & Transportation
The private sector has been doing this for years. Government agencies have now begun to realize the value of evaluating the total cost of procuring goods which may include transportation costs, carrying costs or disposal costs. Today's negotiations now involve consideration of these costs. Public procurement professionals are often unaware of the opportunities to improve the terms and reduce the expenses associated with the delivery of contracted products. This course focuses on the benefits of contracting product transport services independent of the product itself, through understanding the nature of logistics contracting, processes the responsibilities and legal aspects, and the competitive market environment of transportation carriers. Read more

Performance Based RFPs
Performance based contracting is one of the hottest topics in public procurement, The Federal Government Office of Management and Budget (OMB) established a goal of making 20% of all eligible service contract dollars over $25,000 performance based in fiscal year 2002. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study indicates that state and local governments are quickly embracing performance based service contracting. As governments move toward performance contracting, most public procurement organization are not trained or equipped to effectively compete these contracts. This course will provide the requisite skills and tools procurement professionals need to successfully manage this new procurement methodology. Classroom activities will incorporate case studies to evaluate the effectiveness and application of the process. Read more

Presentation Skills for Procurement Officials
Procurement officials often have to present information, ideas, and facts to vendors, user groups, Boards, Committees, or Pre-Proposal meetings. Successful presentation skills are a strategically effective way to show your professional ability to speak in public while displaying confidences and credibility in delivering a message to impact your audience. Read more

Procurements Under Grants & Other Federal Programs
This course is designed to equip the procurement professional with a solid understanding of grants and federal programs. Participants will evaluate federal requirements for unique criteria; formulate plans to procure under grant and other federal programs rules utilizing the correct model format and successfully apply the resulting purchasing and subsequent contracts in an acceptable manner. Read more

Project Management for Work Groups
Sooner or later you are likely to find yourself in charge of a project. Regardless of whether your project is simple or complex, you will need to carefully plan and manage both your team and project. This two-day session is intended to help the new and part-time manager build a solid foundation of good project management habits. Holding vendors responsible, how to achieve high quality results and avoid schedule changes and cost overruns are a few of the useful topics to be covered in this course. Read more

Risk Management in Public Contracting
Risk is a critical consideration in the contracting and procurement process. A thoughtful and proactive approach toward risk, as it relates to specific procurement actions, contributes to the success of contract performance. Risk is directly related to the successful achievement of targeted goals and objectives. The procurement manager must ensure that the risks associated with each procurement action have been identified, assessed, and mitigated to the practicable maximum extent, while taking cost and other factors into consideration. The emphasis of this course will be on developing a solid understanding of the complexities of risk management and recognizing the importance of planning, monitoring and proactive insight and oversight into risk areas related to the contract's stated performance outputs and outcomes. Read more