Purchaser Header Spring 2010 

In This Issue
Purchasing Achievements
Spend Management Project
Team Georgia Marketplace Update
Professional Development News
eQuote System Upgrade
New Statewide Contracts
Purchasing Card Tips
Join Our Mailing List to receive Georgia Purchaser!
Sign up to receive the Georgia Purchaser.
Quick Links
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
    
Greetings Purchasing Partners,
We are once again approaching the end of another great fiscal year, when in addition to closing-out our books, we must celebrate successes while fine-tuning operations to maximize efficiency in

Tim Gibney

the new year. It must be noted that all of the state's procurement successes were achieved through your collaboration and determination. We have made tremendous strides in becoming the nation's best procurement organization. National organizations as well as other states are actively looking to emulate our formulas for success. Let us continue our efforts not only to be the nation's best, but also to sustain this esteemed status.

 

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Georgia Purchaser. It features updates to systems and operations most commonly used by our customers including eSource (formerly known as eQuote) and Team Georgia MarketplaceTrademark Symbol. Additionally, we are spotlighting two of our state partners, Kennesaw State University and Medical College of Georgia, in celebration of their achievements during this transformation period. We are also pleased to share that DOAS has recently received a number of accolades for transformative efforts including Georgia Enterprises' "Spirit of State Use Award" received by DOAS Commissioner Brad Douglas and  State Purchasing's finalist standing for the Institute of Supply Management's  prestigious R. Gene Richter Award for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management. We thank our state partners for their continued support in making Georgia the best managed state in the nation.

 

Please continue to offer your comments and suggestions so that we may better serve you.

 

Tim Gibney, C.P.M, CPPO
Assistant Commissioner - Procurement
Department of Administrative Services
[email protected]

PURCHASING ACHIEVEMENTS

   
MCG logoKSU logoPartners Spotlight
DOAS State Purchasing Division proudly recognizes Kennesaw State University and Medical College of Georgia for their efforts in support of the Accelerated Procurement Transformation initiative. So far, each entity has tied for the most staff certified by the Georgia Procurement Certification Program. Both entities have five purchasing staff members who have achieved Basic Certification or the Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate (GCPA) designation. If individual certification is an indication of personal competency, then certification of entire staffs can be a demonstration of state entity commitment to purchasing excellence. Kudos to both entities and keep up the good work!
 
 View a complete list of State purchasers with Basic Certification.
 
 
DOAS Commissioner Brad Douglas
Congratulations to 
DOAS Commissioner Douglas
He was recently honored at Georgia Enterprises for Products & Services' 7th Annual Working Wonders Day ceremony, for his unwavering support of the organization and the State Use Council. More>> 
 
 
 
 

  

APT Team 2010Standing for Service Excellence

The State of Georgia's ongoing overhaul of procurement practices, skills and technology has garnered a lot of attention in recent months. Thanks in part to the incredible hard work and partnership of our purchasing professionals statewide, the Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division (SPD) has received the following awards...

SPEND MANAGEMENT PROJECT UPDATE 

  
Spend Management Analytics Diagram 
SPD Publicly Unveils Spend Tool 

This March, State Purchasing's 12-month spend management project came to a close, but the hard work is just beginning as the State of Georgia begins to use Spend Management Analytics to find efficiencies in state procurement. Review the official May 7 release or visit www.SpendAnalytix.com for details. 

 

TEAM GEORGIA MARKETPLACETrademark SymbolUPDATES

Team Georgia Marketplace Logo
 
Progressing Towards Statewide Acceptance
Team Georgia MarketplaceTrademark Symbol
continues to be recognized as one of the nation's premier electronic procurement systems. Since our last edition of the Georgia Purchaser, four governmental entities have migrated over to the system and have become avid users: the Department of Community Health, the Department of Transportation, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the State Accounting Office. As of March 2010, there are 3,200 state users from 12 entities and more than 17,000 registered bidders and suppliers in the system, which accounts for more than $1.4 billion in state spend. Twelve additional Georgia entities are expected to become Team Georgia MarketplaceTrademark Symbolusers by the end of Fiscal Year 2011. Way to go, Team Georgia!
  
 

Team Georgia MarketplaceTM:

New Home for Statewide Contracts

During the first quarter of FY2011, the Statewide Contract Index will migrate to Team Georgia MarketplaceTM to become the sole source for information pertaining to active statewide contracts. As a result, not only will our customers be able to window shop and place orders, they will be able to view all the information previously displayed on the Statewide Contract Index. We hope that you will enjoy this effort to eliminate redundancy and create a more efficient means to accessing needed information. We will continue to keep you informed about this upcoming transition.

 

 
New Browser Requirements for Virtual Catalogs

As of July 25, 2010, browser requirements for Team Georgia Marketplace virtual catalogs will change as follows:

  • For Windows Users, Internet Explorer 6 will no longer be supported. Read about a needed Internet Explorer upgrade.
  • For Mac users, Mozilla 1.7 will no longer be supported, and the 10.4 Operating System will no longer be certified (but still supported).
  • For Firefox users, Firefox 3.5 will be certified, and Firefox 3.0 will not be certified (but still supported).
  • For Supported Browsers, support for Opera 9 is being upgraded to Opera 10 and support for Chrome 2.0 is being upgraded to 3.0. (Note: The older versions of the browsers will no longer be supported). 

To upgrade your browser, go to your provider's Web site or contact the Procurement Help Desk at 404-657-6000.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS

 
Dr. Mirna Barker, Chief Learning Officer

SPD Celebrates  

First Wave of Certified Purchasers
More than 20 Georgia purchasing professionals have successfully tested and passed all associated exams to achieve the Basic Certification or the Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate (GCPA) designation within the Georgia Procurement Certification Program. More>>
 

 
New No-Show Training Policy 

Beginning May 1, 2010, the State Purchasing Division (SPD) will begin assessing state entities $30 for any no-show student, that is, anyone who registers for a training class, but does not attend or cancel the registration within 72 hours of the beginning of the class. More>> 


 
Training Fees Going for 
Agencies Not Bound by DOAS Rules

Unlike most State of Georgia entities, the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) is required to become 100-percent self-funded this coming fiscal year. As a result, to cover our costs, it has become necessary for DOAS-State Purchasing (SPD) to start charging for training services to organizations that are not bound by the purchasing rules established by the DOAS. More>> 

eQUOTE SYSTEM UPGRADE
 

eQuote Graduates to eSource

The Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) - State Purchasing Division has found yet another way to enhance the sourcing tool--this time by expanding its capabilities beyond its current use with RFQs (requests for quotes). More>> 

NEW STATEWIDE CONTRACTS
 
Save Time and Money with Statewide Contracts
The Georgia Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division, has established a host of new statewide contracts that will help you save time and the additional costs associated with acquiring needed products and services. Review the list below, or search the Statewide Contract Index for details on these and other available statewide contracts:   
 
Notice: Early in FY2011, DOAS customers will be able to access all statewide contract information through an application in Team Georgia MarketplaceTrademark Symbol. The Statewide Contract Index will migrate to Team Georgia MarketplaceTrademark Symbolto bring efficiencies and ease of use to you. Additional information is forthcoming.

PURCHASING CARD TIPS

 

Paul KurtzDOAS and OPB Publish Statewide Fuel Card

Standards and Guidelines   
By Paul Kurtz, CPCP, State Cards Program Manager 
The Department of Administrative Services' (DOAS) State Purchasing Division (SPD) and Office of Fleet Management (OFM), in cooperation with the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) have published new, comprehensive Statewide Fuel Card Standards and Guidelines effective this month. More>>
If you would like to access the Georgia Purchaser online, go to www.doas.ga.gov, click the "More News" link within the News section on the home page and view our "Newsletters" list on the right.
DOAS State Purchasing Division