Cal State San Bernardino’s Department of Procurement and Contracts was awarded the prestigious 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Procurement Institute Inc. (NPI). The AEP Award is earned by organizations that demonstrate a commitment to procurement excellence and embrace innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership and e-procurement.

CSUSB is one of 198 organizations in the U.S. and Canada and one of only 16 higher education institutions to receive the award this year. It marks the second time Cal State San Bernardino has been honored with the award, having previously earned it in 2023. The AEP program encourages the development of excellence, as well as continued organizational improvement to earn the award annually.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this award for the second consecutive year,” said Jay Wood, executive director and chief procurement officer. “The team continually strives to streamline its processes and optimize the delivery of its services, and this award not only demonstrates that our efforts have been effective, it further motivates us toward continued excellence.”   

CSUSB’s procurement and contracts department is responsible for all purchases and contracts made by the university. The procurement staff assists the campus community with their purchasing needs and acts as a liaison with vendors and service providers. The department is responsible for issuing purchase orders, agreements, memorandums of understanding and fees for service agreements and contracts.

Additionally, the department takes initiative in coordinating and evaluating bids, obtaining quotes for needed goods and services, and managing the office supplies contract and the corporate card program.

In addition to NPI, the AEP is sponsored by the California Association of Public Procurement Officials, Canadian Public Procurement Council/Conseil canadien des marchés publics, Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Government Finance Officers Association, National Association of Educational Procurement, NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, and Texas Public Purchasing Association.

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