ART - Pareto Award Information Management 2009

The document is an article from the October/November 2009 issue of GO prO, the official publication of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). The article discusses the Hillsborough County, Florida Procurement Services Department's achievement of earning the Pareto Award of Excellence in Public Procurement. The department is recognized for its high level of staff morale, effective delegation of purchases, assertive leadership, proactive relationship with client departments, support for professional certification, emphasis on ethics in public purchasing, and well-managed procurement card program. The article also mentions the county's efforts to improve its procurement department, including funding for staff certifications, customer service ratings, and self-study to identify areas for improvement. The document also mentions that the procurement process at Hillsborough County should not be on an adversarial basis and highlights the importance of process management accomplishments. The Pareto Award is compared to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and is awarded to public procurement agencies that have been certified with the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of leadership, ethics, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness in procurement.