Procurement Initiative

State Purchasing - Procurement Initiative - Strategic Plan

	Organization
	To make it easier for field buyers to find the appropriate contact person at State Purchasing and to improve the management of contract and vendor information, the State Purchasing organizational structure has undergone major changes. Currently, State Purchasing (SPD) is divided into Strategic Sourcing, which is aligned by categories of goods and services, and the Knowledge Center, which is aligned by operational business units. See State Purchasing’s organizational structure

	Training
	SPD Professional Development formed a Training Review Council composed of experienced Georgia purchasing staff from several different agencies and teaching institutions. The council oversees the development and administration of a training curriculum for government purchasing professionals. SPD has been busily assembling a new, statewide comprehensive training and certification program for purchasing staff in state agencies and universities. Additionally, SPD now offers twenty different purchasing courses designed specifically for SPD staff, state entity staff and suppliers of the State. Learn more about SPD State Entity Training

	Process
	Collaborative, standardized, and streamlined processes are currently being implemented. Statewide solicitations are developed by category teams composed of representatives from State Purchasing and other state entities. In addition, SPD official forms have been developed to assist in the 7 Stages of the Procurement Process. See SPD Official Forms

	Tools and technology
	Team Georgia Marketplace is the statewide enterprise procurement system expected to revolutionize purchasing for the state. Three state agencies are currently piloting the system, another batch are scheduled for a May 2009 deployment. Over time, Team Georgia Marketplace will be introduced to all state entities. Learn more about Team Georgia Marketplace In the meantime, to prepare for the statewide rollout of Team Georgia Marketplace, state entities are being transitioned into conducting purchasing activities online. DOAS offers a number of eTools, which provide efficiencies and enhanced functions that are helping to drive the state toward strategic goals of improved technology use and the statewide implementation of Team Georgia Marketplace. Find out more about the eTools offered by DOAS