Agenda

Western Regional Meeting 

• Angela Shell, Chief Procurement Officer and NASPO Regional Chair, State of California
• Mindy Birk, Procurement Policy Officer and NASPO Regional Vice-Chair, State of Alaska

Midwestern Regional Meeting 

• Genevieve Hayes, Division Director and NASPO Regional Chair, State of Michigan

Southern Regional Meeting 

• Rebecca Krystopa, Policy Operations Manager and NASPO Regional Chair, State of Georgia
• Lisa McKim, Compliance and Contract Performance Manager and NASPO Regional Vice-Chair, State of Oklahoma

Eastern Regional Meeting

• Jaime Tomaszewski, Chief Administrative Officer and NASPO Regional Chair, State of Maryland
• Gregg Olivera, Deputy Director, Chief Procurement Officer, and NASPO Regional Vice-Chair, State of New Jersey

Welcome to day two of the 2021 REACH Virtual Event! Join us as we kick off today’s program with a special video compilation from our procurement colleagues.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in group discussions around a topic of their choosing. Each roundtable room will have a NASPO staff facilitator that will kick off the conversation and provide questions for small group discussion.  Please choose the topic you would like to attend from the options below.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Discuss challenges and solutions related to critical issues in state procurement.
• Identify and develop best practice approaches with procurement staff in other states.

Topics:

1. eProcurement
2. Contract Administration
3. Supplier Relations/Engagement
4. Small and Diverse Business Engagement
5. Talent Management and Succession Planning
6. Negotiations

TRACK: Procurement Strategies

This session will focus on interagency relationships and best practices to build trust. It will highlight key components to create a partnership between the central procurement office and the user agency. It will include an interactive discussion between the procurement staff speaker, the user agency representative speaker, and the attendees.

Learning Objectives:

• Illustrate perspectives from the agency side.
• Identify factors to establish trust and build a quality partnership.
• Describe the benefits of a quality partnership.

TRACK: Managing Technical Solutions

This session will discuss eMarketplace platforms related to technical considerations of how eMarketplace portals function and capabilities to customize.  It will include lessons learned during the recent ValuePoint Request for Information (RFI) process regarding supply chain risks, precautions against cybersecurity threats, security of data and other important aspects.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand platform management and user experience related to workflow, authorization, special terms, etc.
• Identify aspects of customer service and service level agreements.

TRACK: Professional and Organizational Development

A panel discussion on navigating the challenges presented by organizational changes in administration and technology, and the procedural or policy changes that often follow.  Presenters will describe challenges they have encountered and strategies they have used for successful change management.  The discussion will include some practical tips for achieving office buy-in following changes in political leadership and new technology implementation.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common obstacles and challenges to implementing organizational changes in procurement.
• Develop a plan for meeting challenges specific to their office’s needs.
• Apply strategies to effectively communicate and guide their office through a change situation.

TRACK: Procurement Strategies

All procurements need a strategy for success, whether for a cooperative or single-state solution.  The sourcing strategy will be based primarily on the goods or services being procured, as well as a number of other factors including the complexity of the project, the size of the market, and the need for flexibility.  Our panelists will discuss traditional, alternative and innovative solutions utilized within their states, including the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) and “Challenge RFP,” identifying the factors for consideration when determining the best sourcing strategy, the benefits of each methodology, as well as tips for navigating potential statutory, regulatory or policy hurdles.

Learning Objectives:

• Introduce various sourcing strategies being used by states and ValuePoint.
• Realize the importance of mapping a sourcing strategy as a first step.
• Understand the factors involved in determining which procurement strategy to utilize.

TRACK: Managing Technical Solutions

This session will examine cybersecurity threats, especially threats to government data and public IT systems. It will describe public procurement and contracting mitigation strategies in the acquisition process to address these complex threats.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify types of cybersecurity threats and attacks.
• Examine what procurement officers can do to mitigate cybersecurity risks through the acquisition process.
• Identify security standards and certifications that help governments manage cybersecurity risks.

TRACK: Professional and Organizational Development

As we enter a new phase in a post-COVID workplace, many public procurement offices are either continuing to use a remote/hybrid work environment or are transitioning back to the office. In this session, the presenters will discuss how these work models can be challenging yet effective for a public procurement office. They will dive into the challenges that offices face in managing their staff in these environments, review different strategies to help manage a remote/hybrid staff, and discuss what making the transition back to in-person looks like. They will also introduce attendees to various tools they use to help in daily management of a remote/hybrid staff to make a public procurement office successful for the future.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify challenges and benefits of a remote/hybrid workplace.
• Discuss management strategies to help facilitate remote/hybrid work and make the transition back to the office.
• Review different technical tools available to manage a remote/hybrid workplace.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us for the 2021 REACH Conference Closing Session. In this session, we’ll recap learning opportunities, share how to keep the conversations going, and have some fun before we say goodbye.