Understanding Small Purchases
Duration: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Continuing Education Hours: 3
Workshop Description:
The three-hour workshop is designed for state and local governments using the small procurement method, typically $3,000 – $50,000. It reviews this method and its place within the framework of procurement procedures and contains lectures, discussions, and small group exercises.
Who Should Attend:
- User departments delegated small purchasing authority.
- Purchasers or buyers that make purchases under the competitive bid limit or through the informal bid process.
- Anyone who wants a better understanding of the small purchase process. This may include department managers, administrative staff, user departments, auditors, HUB coordinators, and procurement card users.
Course/Workshop topics:
- Role and principles of public procurement
- Small purchase method, including bidding thresholds.
- Types of purchases
- Goods and Services
- Professional and Consulting
- Single and Sole Source
- Emergency
- Cooperatives
- Informal quote process, including:
- Specifications or scope of work
- Bid list selection and solicitation
- Evaluation and award process
Benefits of Attendance – participants will:
- Understand the vital role procurement plays in promoting competition, ensuring quality, and reducing costs.
- Examine the small purchase method, including micro and small purchases.
- Distinguish between the different processes required for non-competitive purchases, small informal purchases, and formal purchases.
- Explore the informal quote process and understand the importance of writing good specifications, selecting the appropriate bidders, and ensuring a fair and equitable award process.
