Course

Public Procurement Designation Intensive

  • Date: 10/16/2023 - 11/06/2023
  • Instructor: Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    Corporate Procurement Program Manager
    Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    — Phone: 301-454-1600 — Fax: 301-454-1606
    Stephanie Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, CTPE - Stephanie is a Corporate Procurement Program Manager for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She partners with CEOs, executives, and end users to assist them in gaining the right product or service at the right price at the right time. After spending nearly three decades working in procurement, Stephanie knows what truly drives the procurement process —and it’s not just about knowing all “the rules.” It’s how well you connect with the people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. This is true not only for internal clients, but external clients. Stephanie has saved her agency millions of dollars through her procurement and negotiation skills, purchasing a vast array of products and services, including negotiating software and utilities contracts. Stephanie is a Subject Matter Expert and instructor for NIGP. In addition to teaching multiple Pathways courses, Stephanie has contributed to and assisted in the development of all the Technology courses currently offered through NIGP. In 2020, Stephanie earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie is passionate about the procurement professional and has mentored several individuals in the profession. Through her guidance, these individuals have become certified and grown in the profession.
    , Ms. Kristy D Varda, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    Contracting Officer
    Ms. Kristy D Varda, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    — Phone: 571-258-3144
    Originally from Oklahoma and a proud Oklahoma State University Alum, Kristy spent 10 years as a military spouse before relocating to Virginia from Germany. Kristy completed her Masters in Biotechnology Studies in 2008 and her MBA in 2009 while working in a variety of industries. She has been in public procurement for over 11 years and now works as a Capital Contracting Officer for Loudoun County Government. Her passion to help others grow in their procurement profession began with presenting webinars on Sole Sources and Software Procurement. She has been a part of the NIPG taskforce to write the Best Practices series on technology procurement and helped to develop both the Foundations of Technology Procurement and Job Order Contracting Courses for Pathways. She currently teaches a variety of topics for NIGP, is a staff member of Radio NIGP, and an NIGP mentor.
  • Level: Foundation
  • Format: Blended
  • Contact Hours: 45
  • CEUs: 4.5

The NIGP Public Procurement Associate Designation Bootcamp is a 3-week blended course consisting of on-demand courses and live instructor sessions. The offering is a great way for someone new to public procurement needing to get an in depth onboarding to the public procurement industry. Topics covered in the designation include everything from: the strategic function of public procurement within the entity, public procurement legislation and regulations, ethical considerations, and potential issues, developing procurement plans, cost and price analysis, requirements planning, source selection, managing end user relationships, negotiations, and the contract award process.

Instructors:

Stephanie Akerley & Kristy Varda

Online Live Learning Event (OLLE)
OLLE attendance is mandatory and is required for successfully course completion.  OLLE meeting link and login information will be distributed via email at the start of the course.
 
OLLE schedule is as follows:  
 
Monday, October 16      2-3PM EST(Orientation - optional)
Monday, October 23      1-3PM EST
Monday, October 30      1-3PM EST 
 
Followed by 3 days of live instructions: October 31 - November 02;  10 AM - 7 PM EST 
 
Pricing:
PriceCostBeginsEnds
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Early)$1,000.00 08/17/2023
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Standard)$1,250.0008/18/202310/15/2023
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Non-Member)$1,350.00 10/15/2023
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Early) $1,000.00
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Non-Member) $1,350.00
(prices valid until Aug 17, 2023)
Spots available: 20

Objectives

Registration provides the learner access to three of NIGP's Pathways core certificates presented over 3 weeks:

  • Week 1: 1 hour of live instruction, remaining time self-study: Foundations of Strategy and Policy.
  • Week 2: 1 hour of live instruction, remaining time self study: Foundations of Planning and Analysis.
  • Week 3: 1 hour of live instruction, followed by 3 full days of instructor-led training on Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting.

Intended Audience

This offering is targeted to individuals who meet or exceed the following professional demographics:  

  • Entry-level public procurement and central warehouse professionals who serve as assistants, coordinators, buyers, or equivalent functions within their respective entities.   

  • Non-procurement managers and supervisors who are responsible for either the procurement function or staff who provide procurement functions under delegated authority.   

  • Professionals who are employed by governing entities and special authorities (such as K-12 and higher education, publicly-owned utilities, transportation providers, and other publicly-funded or created organizations) that either serve within or manage the procurement function.  

  • Suppliers or representatives of suppliers seeking to understand the public procurement function from a holistic level, including the policies, standards, and procedures by which public entities must function.  

Completion Requirements

A capstone activity and assessment complete the course.

Once assessments are completed with a passing score, learners are awarded the Designation digital badge and certificate. This recognition is a great way for practitioners to show their skills and knowledge across competencies that are at the heart of the public procurement function.

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Miscellaneous


Length

  • Three-week, digitally-based learning experience housed in Aspire that includes live learning events.

System Requirements

Operating System:

  • Windows Vista SP2 or newer
  • Mac OS 10.5 or higher
  • Linux/Unix (any recent version)

Hardware:

  • Video Card
  • Sound card and headphones or speakers (some assignments have audio components)

Software:

Web Browser:

  • The last three versions of the major browsers: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer
  • Other web browsers may work, but may not render all features of the courses
  • Cookies must be enabled
  • JavaScript must be enabled

Internet:

  • Reliable internet connection. Broadband cable or highspeed DSL is recommended for optimal experience.
  • E-mail account (to be able to register and to receive e-mail from the course system regarding registration, course status, etc.)
  • Linux/Unix (any recent version)

Payment Information

  • Register online with credit card
  • Register online and upload a Purchase Order
  • Register by fax and download the print & fax form

*FORM OF PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY REGISTRATION FORM FOR ORDER TO BE PROCESSED

Methods of Payment Accepted: Check (make checks payable to NIGP), Purchase Orders (via print and fax form or online), and Credit Cards (Master Card, Visa, and American Express).

If paying by check, please make check payable to NIGP and send payment to:
NIGP, Attn: Seminar Registration
2411 Dulles Corner Park, Suite 350
Herndon, VA 20171

Sessions

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Public Procurement Designation Intensive

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