about the procurement school

As a Procurement Officer with Halifax Water, Amanda LeVangie has been managing procurement processes there for the past year and a half. Prior to this she had been working in the private sector and realizes now that she had little understanding of how different public sector procurement was.

Amanda enrolled in the PSPP to learn about the legal obligations that govern the public procurement process in Canada, and to ensure a successful career in the public sector. She attended the entire program online and enjoyed the ability to work at her own pace.

Amanda’s previous procurement training was offered through the private sector and she found it to have a narrow focus, mainly on cost and negotiation. She enjoyed that the PSPP had an overview of all areas of the procurement process, with particular emphasis on the nuances of the public environment.

What were your best “take-aways”?

“Graduating from the PSPP arms you with essential tools required to make informed decisions regarding procurement best practice.”

Nelson has been with the Vancouver School Board (VSB) for over 12 years, where he has been assigned to SET-BC since April 2018. While he is currently an accountant with SET BC, approximately 60% of his current responsibilities involve handling procurement activities and reporting to the Admin Team who make the decisions around procurement requirements. Nelson also handles timely product implementation and coordinates with Vancouver School Board to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Why did the PSPP appeal to Nelson?

The PSPP online format appealed to Nelson as it allowed him to complete the certificate program within the year, enabling him to apply what he was learning ‘sooner rather than later’. He felt that both the speed and delivery format also allowed him to achieve a better work/life balance by avoiding the requirement for in-class, likely evening participation. He was able to complete the program components alongside his full-time work responsibilities.

Rating the PSPP as a 10/10 (strongly recommended), Nelson found that the program provided him with the critical knowledge in public procurement to improve the planning process, and to be better able to explain the procurement rules to his Admin Team. This in turn improves SET-BC’s internal risk management processes.

“The PSPP provided excellent case examples, allowing participants to apply critical thinking while learning about risk management and best practices for public sector procurement. It emphasized how procurement law and other requirements are subject to change and reinforced the need for ongoing learning to remain up-to-date.”

What were your best “take-aways”?

“I learned how to approach the grey areas in procurement with confidence. While SET-BC relies on the SMEs at the Vancouver School Board for procurement in excess of threshold amounts, the tools and strategies that I learned in the PSPP allowed me to better understand VSB processes and to provide feedback to my Admin Team so that they can make more informed decisions.”

As a Procurement Specialist with Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Corporation, Steve manages the procurement for a production-based environment. He has 14 years experience in Supply Chain with 3 years in his current position as Procurement Specialist.

Why did the PSPP appeal to Steve?

Steve enrolled in the PSPP as he felt it enables students to see the ‘whole picture’ of the procurement-to-pay process, especially the contract planning and development phase.

He shared that it was effective in so many ways, from examining case studies, to the weekly LIVE sessions and in-depth conversations exploring creative, problem-solving strategies with his cross-country cohort.

What were your best “take-aways”?

“The PSPP course has helped me advance my career, by allowing me to understand the contract language, interpret and action it quickly. From the planning and development with my stakeholders, all the way through to the milestones of managing the contract efficiently.”

Why did the PSPP appeal to Erin?

Erin found the online modules, webinars and discussion forum to be very effective and provided flexibility to complete the program while working full time. She had considered a few different programs, and aside from the flexible delivery format, Erin found that the PSPP was directly relevant to her work and most cost-effective.

The PSPP was also great for networking with a cross-Canada cohort of public procurement professionals from all levels of government. This enabled the sharing of up-to-date trends, real life experiences and best practices, and exploring ways to implement the various program tools.

Were there any ‘ah ha’ moments?

“Discussing the Draft RFP concept was an “ah ha” moment for me. This tool provides the opportunity to engage vendors in a fair and transparent manner to gather information and invite feedback from them that can be used to adjust the RFx document before it is formalized.

This collaborative approach provides the opportunity to ensure the RFx better reflects the needs of all parties (bidders, end users and purchasers). While not appropriate for every process, using a Draft RFP can help avoid costly errors and potential lack of bids that can be caused by confusion about the opportunity.”

Robert Boyle is responsible for overseeing collaborative regional strategic procurement efforts between Nova Scotia Power and New Brunswick Power.

Robert is an avid supporter of the PSPP and attributes aspects of his career advancement to the program.

“I believe the PSPP helped in two ways. First, it increased my confidence on complex procurement decisions, changing since it changed my approach from ‘I believe’ to ‘I know’ the right way to proceed, both for planning and, evaluation. This includes handling award decisions along with the various situations that can come up in a procurement – often unexpected despite one’s best planning! Second, having the PSPP certificate is the documentation that you not only have experience, but you have that experience backed up by accredited, certified training.

Over the years, I have referred back to course work and material to review content prior to making decisions, and I regularly share this information with staff to assist with on-the-job coaching.”

Robert began his procurement career in 1995 with the Fredericton Co-op where he managed various retail operations, including purchasing and marketing. He then joined the Government of New Brunswick, working his way up to Director of Strategic Sourcing before moving to Nova Scotia Power / New BrunswickNB Power.

Why did the PSPP appeal to Robert for his procurement and contract training needs?

“The program expanded my knowledge base quickly and efficiently. Its case-study approach was appealing as it simulates ‘learning by doing.’ I was in a procurement position leading staff and I needed to enhance my foundational knowledge by applying it to the interpretation of provincial legislation and regulations.

These courses focus on ‘making it real’ rather than a ‘textbook’ approach, and they are tailored to the needs of the organization. In my case, the program focused on the legislative environment in Atlantic Canada.”

Do you feel the PSPP will strengthen the public sector procurement profession?

“This PSPP will assist in two ways – providing an efficient program to build a foundation that can be a springboard to support more advanced training, or by complementing other programs such as the SCMP.

I give the PSPP a 9 out of 10!”

Shanna Epp is a Procurement Advisor for the Yukon Government. Day-to-day, Shanna gives procurement advice, makes recommendations, supports development of policy, and engages in vendor outreach.

She wanted to invest in her career, but wasn’t sure how…

She chose the PSPP program by NECI because of its focus on Canadian Public Procurement and commitment to providing students with the most up-to-date critical information in procurement law.

Shanna attended the PSPP entirely online with a cohort of other public procurement professionals from across the country. Although she found the online format to be a different learning experience than what she was used to, she appreciated the flexibility it offered her and ultimately concluded that both the format and course delivery were ‘fantastic’. The weekly online sessions with her instructor kept her on track, reaffirmed that she understood concepts and gave her the confidence she needed to take on more responsibilities.

During the PSPP Program, Shanna discovered there are common difficulties and challenges for all public procurement professionals (regardless of the organization they work for). In addition to expanding her network, Shanna discovered how to navigate these issues, deal with tough situations, and follow proven methods to ensure successful contracts.

Shanna rates the program 10/10, and would highly recommend it for others in public procurement.

What were Shanna’s best ‘take-aways’?

I learned that planning is incredibly important. If done properly, it can set a path for the future that not only reduces issues, but guarantees better performance!”

 

It’s so easy to get lost in paperwork that sometimes you don’t pay close attention to contracts through the entire performance period. Performing regular, on-site inspections not only improved my contractor performance, but also made the final evaluation process much easier!

 

I often blamed the procurement process for issues when in reality the process is there to set me up for success. I just needed to plug in and think about what I wanted to achieve.

Merged Services Nova Scotia, completed the Public Sector Procurement Program (PSPP) in May of 2014, and we spoke with her upon her successful completion of the program.  She is a Strategic Advisor (Supply Chain) with Merged Services Nova Scotia.

The intention of the Supply Chain stream of Merged Services Nova Scotia is to leverage the collective buying power of Nova Scotia’s health system in an effort to achieve best value through more joint contracts and less variation in goods and services procured.  Cindy’s role focuses on maximizing the value available through partnering with specialized Group Purchasing Organizations.

With a background primarily in the private sector, Cindy sought out the PSPP program to provide the specific training that focused on public sector procurement and that clearly distilled the important and fundamental differences between the two.

As a result of the PSPP program, and its in-depth examination of past court cases and their outcomes, Cindy feels much more mindful of the legalities of the RFX process as it relates to public procurement.

Cindy found the program format exceptional, with clear and easy to follow directions and presentations.  She enjoyed the fact that she can work remotely at her own pace and enjoy online interactions with her cohorts.  She realized that everyone experiences many of the same challenges and adds “so why not learn from each other and share our collective knowledge to help support one another.”

As the Contracts Manager, Li has spent the majority of her time developing RFPs, evaluating bids, and selecting suppliers for a diverse range of goods and services for post-secondary institutions through out Atlantic Canada. However, with the increased awareness of the importance of managing contracts, she finds herself spending more time monitoring supplier performance (such as defining KPIs and reviewing these KPI reports with suppliers on regular basis) and  developing  stronger supplier relationships.

Li began her journey through the PSPP certificate program on the recommendation of her Manager when she joined the organization.  Li initially found the legal language and case studies somewhat of a challenge to wade through when she began the program.  However, as she progressed through her training and gained more experience on-the-job, she understood the importance, relevancy, and became very engaged in her learning process.

Li was able to fit the program in along side of her demanding work load and completed the PSPP program within two years.   She considers achieving the Certificate a very important milestone in her career and is very proud of her accomplishment.  She shared that it not only demonstrates the increase of her public procurement knowledge but it is also highly recognized by her Manager.

What were Li’s best ‘take-aways’?

Learning about debriefing techniques and best practices!  I received so many tips, tools and templates throughout the course and have customized the ones that are most relevant and often used.  Most importantly, they don’t sit on a shelf collecting dust as I reference them daily!

 

I also enjoyed learning from other procurement professionals in my cohort.  One colleague shared a valuable template for scoring contractor performance that I plan to adopt for use in the future.  At the end of the day, I learned that, as a procurement professional, our struggles in the field are common to all and that I wasn’t alone. The strategies taught in the program help us cope with these challenges in a proactive and effective way.

As a Procurement Specialist for the Saskatchewan Research Council, Greg has spent the last 10 years addressing socio economic objectives, maximizing competition, maintaining integrity, and ensuring customer requirements are met while following the organization’s procurement and contracting model.

With a total of 28 years in procurement, Greg  recognizes that the world of procurement is constantly evolving. Greg took the PSPP Certificate Program because he wanted to learn how to reduce potential issues arising from contracting and to keep up to date on procurement law and best practices.

Greg found the PSPP particularly interesting because of its focus on the public sector. Greg learned unique approaches to ensure success in the public procurement operating environment, and learned about common challenges from other public sector professionals in his online cross-country cohort.

Throughout the Program, Greg found his instructor  to be very knowledgeable. In particular, he appreciated that she brought unique, real life examples from other Canadian public sector organizations to the classroom which helped tie in learned concepts to actual practice.

Greg rates the PSPP program a full 10 out of 10, describing it as ‘an invaluable educational experience’!

What were Greg’s best ‘take-aways’?

With regards to the public sector, I now have the skills to navigate the complexities of public sector procurement, resulting in a unified voice which helps to streamline the procurement process and reduce risk for my organization. 

 

After taking the PSPP course my input is sought by my colleagues whenever a complex problem requires analysis pertaining to the Procurement and Contracting cycle

 

During the Program Greg had several ‘ah ha’ moments around the legal aspects, and particularly liked the Risk Management tool and process he worked with in PSPP 201.

Alanna has been with BC Assessment for 15 years and finds that the majority of her work involves the procurement of services or capital goods.  Prior to BC Assessment, Alanna worked as a Senior Buyer for Chemque Inc. in Ontario.

After moving from private to public sector, Alanna realized that procurement in the private sector is far less complex than the highly regulated public sector.  She found that the majority of procurement educational opportunities focus on the private sector, so she was drawn to the PSPP because of its unique focus on the complexities and nuances of public sector procurement.
Alanna participated in a blended delivery format of the PSPP, completing some courses online and others in the live classroom setting.  She enjoyed the experience, finding merit in both delivery formats.  While online delivery offers the convenience and ease of access, the classroom training provided a greater opportunity to network with colleagues, to share knowledge and learn how peers handle similar procurement situations.

The PSPP program prompted Alanna to be more aware of the unique aspects of each individual procurement, the boundaries within which public sector must operate, and the benefits that can be realized with adequate due diligence and appropriate time spent in the planning stage.

She reflects upon a quote she recently read in a NECI newsletter, “We never have time to do it right at the beginning, but we always find time to do it over when things go badly”.  For Alanna, this quote sums up the most valuable take-away from the PSPP training.  Not only does she now dedicate more time to planning, she also impresses upon all internal managers the importance of doing the same.

As a senior buyer with Dalhousie University Patrick consults, as well as issues and manages public bidding opportunities that include:  University operations, teaching and research, and multi-institution collaborations.  Here is why the PSPP appealed to Patrick for his procurement and contract training needs:

“It is one of the very few, if not the only, educational program in Canada which deals specifically with public sector procurement in a comprehensive manner.  It covers the basics of general buying to the intricate and complex nature of high risk, multi-stakeholder public bidding processes.

When you’re the lead person in the middle of a complex procurement trying to balance all needs and perspectives, the third party insights and real world experience learned from the PSPP gives you the confidence to make effective and efficient decisions.”

Here is how the PSPP has improved his on-the-job performance:

“Sometimes you feel as if the situation you’re in is inherently unique and in many ways it is, however, with the education of the PSPP being founded in Canadian legal precedents, you now have practical reference to the same or similar situations, or at the very least, guiding insight.  This gives you the confidence to know when you might need to put the brakes on or take an alternate route.  It not only shows you how to do it but most importantly teaches you why.”

Patrick appreciated that the instructors had direct and specific experience in public procurement, including insight into the legal aspects – one of the PSPPs most beneficial features. This helped guide and inspire great discussion between classmates when talking about specific scenarios, providing a good mix of peer perspective and expert opinion. Patrick also appreciated how the courses provided him with specific tools, templates, and ideas for on-the-job success.  It opened him to processes he might have known about but hadn’t used, like Draft RFP’s, Expressions of Interest, Requests for Information and Qualifications.

There were plenty of ‘ah ha’ moments for Patrick and he refers back to his course material and case studies often.  Rating the program 10 out of 10, Patrick found that the PSPP offered a perfect balance of theory and practice.

“The PSPP specifically deals with what we do in public procurement every single day but most importantly, how we can do it better.  I constantly recommend it and a number of my colleagues are currently enrolled as a result.”

Melanie MacDonald completed the Public Sector Procurement Program (PSPP) in February 2012.  We spoke with Melanie about her participation in December 2013.

Before recently taking on the role of Procurement Compliance Officer, Melanie worked as a Procurement Clerk in the same division. Prior to that, she worked in the private sector as a vendor, responding to RFXs for the JanSan industry.

In her current role with Procurement Services, Melanie monitors procurement transactions by government employees to ensure compliance with approved policies and procedures, reports to Trade Agreement bodies as required, provides continuous education of new and existing users in all aspects of procurement operations, and participates in specific outreach and education programs throughout government. Above all, she ensures clients are assisted in all aspects of the procurement process.

Melanie was attracted to the PSPP program as she was particularly interested in learning about public sector procurement in Canada, and knew the program was designed with input from the Province of Nova Scotia. She found the program provided in-depth, detailed training in public procurement. Not only was the program specific to Canadian law, the examples were based on a variety of local cases, ranging from all levels of government and other public sector entities.

Since completing the program, Melanie found that her confidence in handling procurement issues has increased ten-fold. Her knowledge and understanding of the many intricacies of the public procurement process are much greater as a result of PSPP certification. The program and certification were also instrumental in obtaining her current position of Procurement Compliance Officer with Procurement Services.

Melanie also believes the PSPP program is having an effect on the Public Procurement profession. As more and more public sector procurement professionals graduate from the program, she thinks we will see a growing network where professionals will share best practices and enjoy access to the experience of peers. In addition, Melanie expects to see a more consistent approach to public procurement across the country.

She found it easy to blend her study time during work hours, along with occasional evenings and weekends, greatly benefiting both herself and her organization without any negative impact.

Jocelyn found the 301 online modules provided valuable tips and tools for contract management moving forward, while the Discussion Forum provided an opportunity to network with and learn from the experiences of other public sector procurement specialists in her cohort.

The most useful tip I picked up?

“Maximum leverage is achieved before the contract is signed, therefore careful crafting of solicitation documents is essential to gain maximum benefit once Contract B is entered into.  Whatever you miss out of your RFx document will return to haunt you when managing Contract B with your successful proponent.”   –   Jocelyn Templeman, Buyer | Selkirk College

After eleven years in the private sector, Ryan joined the City of Kelowna in 2012 and currently holds the position of Senior Buyer.  Ryan graduated from the PSPP in 2015 and found the Program to be an excellent way to learn and quickly expand his expertise with public procurement.  Overall he rated the program 9 out of 10.

Ryan appreciated the variety of delivery options for the components of the PSPP program. He opted for a blended learning format, taking PSPP 101 and 301 online and the 200 level courses in the classroom. He thoroughly enjoyed each component and was particularly impressed by the way the classroom courses fully engaged him by weaving in excellent lectures pieces, group projects and debriefing of exercises and case studies. As with all PSPP grads, Ryan found that networking with other procurement professionals throughout the Program was invaluable, and states that working with them on case studies and discussions enhanced his capacity for critical thinking. For Ryan, the online format of the final course in the series, PSPP 301, was an excellent way to pull it all together, using threaded discussions, case examples, readings and individual assignments. “Overall, I feel the way this program is set up really works!”

A piece that really stood out for Ryan was the risk assessment and risk management section. Ryan continues to refer to the PSPP 201 exercise called ‘Risk Assessment – Bridging the Gap’. Along with the other course materials, it has been a great resource for helping him create better RFPs and Tenders, and he often relies on his notes and relevant case studies to help guide his process.

Jocelan Torrelli completed the Public Sector Procurement Program (PSPP) in May 2014, and we spoke with her shortly after the successful completion of her program.

Jocelan is responsible for facilitating projects with both internal and external clients, from hiring consultants, to writing a scope of work and non-binding RFPs for Contractors to perform the renovation projects.  These are large-scale projects that entail internal and external renovations to multi-family dwellings.

Jocelan valued the fact that the PSPP was designed specifically for the public sector.   This fact was both appealing and refreshing.  As all previous training she had experienced focused on the private sector, Jocelan was alerted to the significant differences in the way procurement is handled in the public sector.

She found the format of the curriculum and courses was very simple to follow.   She came to understand that everyone faces similar problems in their procurement-related duties and it was empowering to be able to share information with people from diverse public sector organizations.

Jocelan reported that completing the exercises writing the evaluation criteria and the mandatory requirements for RFPs greatly improved her job performance.  Her refined process has significantly reduced the time required to weed out proponents, to ensure that all are capable of performing the duties as stated in the RFP.

Craig Butt completed the Public Sector Procurement Program (PSPP) in June 2011.  We spoke with Craig about his participation in the Program in September 2011.

Craig’s agency is responsible for goods and services purchases for all 18 government departments for $2500 and up.  He has been with government purchasing for 4 years, and before that worked for a number of private sector companies in procurement positions. He sees a big difference in the focus of public-sector versus private-sector purchasing, mainly around the principles of best-value procurement rather than price-based purchasing, and legislation supporting the fairness and transparency required in public-sector.

The PSPP program appealed to Craig as it is the only program he has come across specifically designed for the public sector in Canada, and as such, it has direct relevance to the work he currently does. Craig feels that a lot of procurement and contract management training courses don’t carry relevance to what is being done on-the-job and are written from an outside perspective rather than a practitioner’s view. The PSPP program focuses on acquiring real-life skills that can be applied in his day-to-day work.

One skill that Craig has been able to use in his workplace immediately upon completion of the Program is conducting market sounding and prequalification processes. Until taking the PSPP program, his department had done very little prequalification.  Recently, upon Craig’s initiative, the department conducted a very successful prequalification process leading to a successful tender call that resulted in substantial savings for the Province. The class discussions and case studies Craig participated in during the Program helped him to develop the skills and confidence necessary to implement this process.

Craig also feels this program will strengthen the public-sector profession by providing a uniform education base across the Atlantic Provinces and the rest of Canada. Not all aspects of each course will apply to all organizations, but the Program gives participants a broad understanding of best practices used in other jurisdictions.  It also allows classmates to brainstorm with colleagues, come up with new ideas and perhaps adapt emerging practices to improve their own processes. This program enables participants to build a network of peers – it is invaluable to be able to pick up the phone and call someone in another city or province to ask advice and to get a third party, impartial opinion on how to approach a challenging situation.

Gerry Wilson completed the Public Sector Procurement Program (PSPP) in June 2011. We spoke with Gerry about his participation in February 2012.

Gerry’s department is responsible for all procurement of goods and services for the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board. This includes everything from stationery to large-dollar renovation projects. He has been with the school board for 8 years and before that worked for the Department of National Defence in purchasing.

The PSPP program appealed to Gerry as it allows staff in his organization to get training that is particularly relevant to those working in Atlantic Canada. The program includes localized content which was previously lacking in other available offerings. Gerry feels that provincially and across the Atlantic Provinces, this program allows standardization and brings consistency. He was also attracted by the Canadian content and the focus on public sector policies and procedures as they differ from the private sector.

Gerry finds the material and course delivery format spot on – the program touches everything and does it right. It includes online, in-class, and resource material that culminates in a very effective program. The instructors are informed and have the added expertise of legal backgrounds and procurement experience – a huge asset. He really enjoyed the introductory online modules in PSPP 101: Introduction to Public Sector Procurement and once used to the technology, found PSPP 301: Procurement Practice – Putting it all Together fun and engaging.

Throughout the program, Gerry found opportunities to re-emphasize what his organization is doing is right, look at different techniques and try out new methods and models. Every session he was able to pick up something new from networking with instructors and classmates. Even after the courses, many classmates have stayed in touch, transferring reference material and asking/answering questions. Personally, Gerry has gone back and referred to the reference manual many times.