Public Procurement Designation Intensive
Course

Public Procurement Designation Intensive

  • Date: 01/26/2026 - 02/19/2026
  • Instructor: Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    Director of Procurement
    Ms. Stephanie L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
    Stephanie Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, CTPE - Stephanie is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association. 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 millions of dollars for her employers 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
    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: 45.5
  • CEUs: 4.55

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 L. Akerley, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
Kristy D Varda, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB

 


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, January 26        2-3PM EST(Orientation)
Monday, February 2        1-3PM EST
Monday, February 9        1-3PM EST 
 
Followed by 3 days of live instructions: February 10 - 12;  10 AM - 7 PM EST 
 
 
Pricing:
PriceCostBeginsEnds
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Early)$1,031.00 11/27/2025
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Standard)$1,289.0011/28/202501/22/2026
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Non-Member)$1,389.00 01/22/2026
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Member: Early) $1,031.00
Public Procurement Designation Intensive (Non-Member) $1,389.00
(prices valid until Nov 27, 2025)
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, and on demand content: Foundations of Strategy and Policy.
  •  Participate effectively in strategic planning activities
  • Advise internal and external clients on the strategic function of procurement.
  • Identify the differences between Law, Regulations and Policy, and Common Law.
  • Manage risk through proper identification and mitigation.
  • Operate with transparency.
  • Select the relevant procurement legislation, regulation, and laws that apply to the work.
  • Recognize and manage ethical and legal issues.
 
Week 2: 1 hour of live instruction, remaining time self study: Foundations of Planning and Analysis.
  • Analyze the requirements for a project and provide the best solutions for the entity.
  • Determine the components and criteria required to successfully award a contract that meets the needs of the end user
  • Describe how to customize terms and conditions in a contract to meet the entity’s needs.
  • Evaluate, select, and apply the tools and processes available for a comprehensive procurement plan.
  •  Analyze the requirements of various internal stakeholders in order to adopt one set of specifications for commonly procured commodities.
  • Design contracts that satisfy the shared needs of multiple internal stakeholders to promote efficiency of the procurement function.
  • Evaluate cost and price data to determine total cost of ownership to an entity.
  • Compare the price of a commodity against the benefit to be derived by the entity to determine whether the expenditure is justifiable.
 
Week 3: 1 hour of live instruction, followed by 3 full days of instructor-led training on Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting.
  •  Identify the appropriate source selection method and describe the components required to successfully meet the needs of the end user.
  • Identify advantages and disadvantages of contracting for commodities.
  • 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.
  • Identify and describe the different types of evaluation methodologies and their associated application.
  • Identify and select the most responsive offer(s) and responsible supplier(s).
  • Prepare to conduct a negotiation by engaging in market research, determining negotiating strategy and goals, and selecting the negotiating team.
  • Conduct and document negotiations with each selected offeror to determine the proposal that best meets entity needs.
  • Establish a performance assessment plan to ensure that all stakeholders are complying with the procurement as established in the contract.

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 all requirements are met, learners are awarded the Designation digital badge and certificate. This includes completing all assessments with a passing score and a post-course evaluation survey available in ASPIRE. 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.

  • Foundations of Strategy & Policy Final Assessment: Passing rate is 81% or higher.
  • Foundations of Planning & Analysis Final Assessment: Passing rate is 80% or higher.
  • Foundations of Sourcing & Contracting Final Assessment: Passing rate is 87% or higher. 
Advertisement
Advertisement

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
12007 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 110
Reston, VA 20191
 


Sessions

Register Today

Public Procurement Designation Intensive

Similar Courses