National Purchasing Institute recognizes HISD for excellence  

For the second year in a row, HISD’s Procurement Services Department has taken home top honors from The National Purchasing Institute.

Just last month, the NPI awarded HISD the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award, which is earned by organizations that have demonstrated excellence through an evaluation that measures innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership. 

“There is no better way to assure the public that your organization is meeting procurement expectations than by submitting your policies and procedures to a verifiable criteria and the scrutiny of third party evaluators,” said HISD Procurement Officer Richard Gay.

During the 2016 fiscal year, HISD Procurement Services processed 111 solicitations/contracts/renewals valued at $257.1 million and processed 108,920 purchase orders with over 300,000 line items valued at $836.9 million. From 2015 to 2017, the Procurement Services Department was able to eliminate 98 percent of all off-contract spending and reduced the number of paper contracts in 2016 by 89 percent through the use of Master Service Agreements. In addition, HISD saved $16 million through the use of the PROCARD program and in cost avoidance/cash rebates through the procurement solicitation process.

“It is imperative that HISD ensure taxpayers that our supply chain is designed to optimize the quality of goods and services while at the same time minimizing the financial risk to the school system, said Gay.  “In addition the public wants to know if HISD offers a fair, transparent, and equitable bidding environment. Awards like this demonstrate our competence and highlight our efficiencies to the public.”