Course

Competency Module: Specification Development

Name: Competency Module: Specification Development
Author: NIGP

Date: 12/11/2024
Start Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time
End Time: 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Hosted By: Minnesota Chapter of NIGP
Instructor: Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
Director of Procurement
Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
stephanie.Akerley@columbiaassociation.org — Phone: 301-335-9827 — 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.
Level: Foundation
Format: Virtual Instructor-Led
Contact Hours: 4
CEUs: 0.4

Focus Areas:

Sourcing and Solicitation
Specification Development

Developing and preparing effective and open specifications, pricing strategies, and terms and conditions to promote maximum competition in the marketplace is crucial for success in public procurement. NIGP’s Competency Module: Specification Development is an activity-based learning experience designed to enhance your skills in this area. This course, will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to assess stakeholder standardization requirements and determine supplier testing or demonstration needs. By mastering these skills, you will become a valuable asset as a procurement professional and contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your organization's procurement processes.

Pricing:

Competency Module: Specification Development (Member: Standard) $175.00
Competency Module: Specification Development (Non-Member: Standard) $275.00
(prices valid until Dec 9, 2024)

Spots available: 13

Objectives

Assist the end user in developing and preparing effective and open specifications, pricing strategies, and terms and conditions to promote maximum competition in the marketplace.
Assess stakeholder standardization requirements to determine supplier testing or demonstration needs.

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

In order to successfully earn a digital badge in the Specification Development competency, learners must:

Complete any pre-work materials provided prior to the course start date.
Attend and participate in the entirety of the instructional event.
Complete the post-course evaluation survey available in Aspire.
Complete the final assessment examination with a score of 81% or higher.

Competency Alignment

This certificate is designed as an exercise-based experience and is tied to NIGP's Public Procurement Competency Framework. Upon completion of the certificate requirements, learners will have demonstrated the successful foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities in alignment with the following competencies:

Specification Development

Miscellaneous

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
440 Monticello Avenue Suite 1802
PMB 63452
Norfolk, VA 23510

Local Contact

Name:	Lisa Truax
Phone:	218-541-5458
Email:	lisa.truax@sourcewell-mn.gov

Sessions

December 11, 2024

Competency Module: Specification Development

December 11, 2024
Competency Module: Specification Development

Cancellation Policy

Registration and payment must be received 24 hours prior to the course start date. After this time, registrations will be based on space availability.  A full refund, less a $75 administrative fee will be given for cancellations made in writing 31+ days prior to the seminar date by emailing RegistrationInfo@nigp.org. No refunds are given for cancellations received within 24 hours of the seminar start date. There are no refunds for no-shows. If the seminar is cancelled for any reason, NIGP's liability is limited to the registration fee only.

Attendee substitutions within the same agency may be done at any time with email notification to NIGP. If attending via scholarship, please provide documentation verifying the scholarship issuer's name and contact information in lieu of payment information.

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