National Award Honors BEST PRACTICES IN PURCHASING

For the second time, the College of the Canyons Contracts, Procurement, and Risk Management (CPRM) department received a 2022 Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) award from the National Procurement Institute, Inc. (NPI).

The department was among the 171 successful applicants from across the nation to receive the prestigious award in 2022.

“We are honored to have been recognized for the second time by the National Procurement Institute,” said April Graham, CPRM director at the college. “Our department’s success is made possible through our teamwork approach and dedication to adhering to the highest standards for professionalism.”

The award’s application process is designed to encourage procurement professionals to go beyond the minimum requirements set yearly by AEP sponsors and to recognize innovative programs and solutions that demonstrate outstanding achievements.

The application process required submission of narratives clearly explaining and demonstrating evidence of various best practices including:

• Procurement ethics

• Electronic procurement manual

• Professional development program

• Surveys of internal customers and

• Internal customer training

• Formal vendor training

• Performance measures

• Centralized procurement authority

• Online electronic vendor registration

• Internal procurement automation

• Online surplus auction system

• Staff member bachelor degrees

See AWARD on Page 13