Collaboration is (Still) the Key to Success

Collaboration is (Still) the Key to Success

Twenty-twenty brought with it many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, the pandemic exposed weaknesses in the international supply chain and limited resources with global demand. As procurement offices across the nation raced to meet the challenges presented, there was also an opportunity to grow and streamline processes, all without sacrificing ethical procurement practices.

Responding to the pandemic meant focusing on multiple fronts at once. NASPO and NASPO ValuePoint immediately identified three attention areas: Fast and Effective Communication, Fostering New and Existing Relationships, and Collecting and Vetting Useful Resources for Members.

Fast and Effective Communication

Within one week of the pandemic declaration, NASPO established a weekly call for all state Chief Procurement Officers. These calls allowed states to share the issues they were facing, identify resources, and brainstorm solutions. Those calls continue even now, though monthly.  Additionally, Membership Services created multiple forums in the NASPO Network that allowed members and industry experts to communicate quickly and personally on various topics such as CARES Act funding and regulations, tools to predict PPE needs, staffing concerns, supply chain, and contact tracing.

Fostering New and Existing Relationships

NASPO and NASPO ValuePoint leveraged every existing relationship and cultivated new relationships individually with other associations and groups specifically focused on addressing the pandemic. Leadership spoke regularly with supply chain experts, other state associations, the federal government, and suppliers. Existing ValuePoint contracts were targeted to meet states’ needs, including the creation of a portal for existing suppliers to identify COVID-related items and updates. For example, ValuePoint worked with the wireless contract to assist with connectivity for a suddenly remote workforce in rural areas. To protect public government entities from fraudulent suppliers and goods, in another example, NASPO partnered with the FBI to produce a podcast outlining ways to avoid being victimized.

Collecting and Vetting Useful Resources for Members

Coupled with fast and effective communication, NASPO and NASPO ValuePoint collected and vetted potentially useful information for its members and other procurement offices. A public site was created with COVID-19 resources with additional information for members, including access to D&B. ValuePoint created web-based air tables for exiting ValuePoint contracts offering PPE, cleaning supplies, and remote work technology solutions., while NASPO published emergency procurement code language for its member states. Through engagement with NASPO’s academic partners and supply chain experts, ValuePoint also engaged with suppliers and manufacturers that pivoted to PPE and sanitizers, in particular. Through the NASPO Network and weekly calls, members informed other members of reliable supplier bases, discussed challenges, and solutions, and shared opportunities to work together on larger purchases.

Procurement’s response to the pandemic has been a collaborative effort of proportions not previously conceived. It has forged deep working relationships across all levels of government, with industry and academic partners, and has identified areas for growth in the future that will be beneficial in daily procurement as well as any future emergencies. The pandemic is not over, but NASPO and NASPO ValuePoint are committed to continually assisting public procurement officials in meeting the ongoing challenges. 

For more information about NASPO ValuePoint, please visit www.naspovaluepoint.org. Specific COVID-information resources can be found at www.naspo.org/covid-19-resources.