March 2022: Procurement Month

WHEREAS, public procurement is an essential function of state government, providing for the purchase of goods and services necessary for the safe and effective operations of the state, including purchases for education, health and human services, transportation, administration, and others; and,

WHEREAS, the work of the state procurement office benefits state agencies and citizens alike through the application of the principles of fiscal responsibility and ethical use of taxpayer dollars for the operations of the state, and,

WHEREAS, public procurement requires specific knowledge and skills to maintain fair and competitive bid practices, conduct thorough market research, administer effective negotiations for the mutual benefit of the state and supplier, and successfully monitor and evaluate all state contracts; and,

WHEREAS, the state of Michigan is supported by a highly qualified and dedicated state procurement staff who demonstrate professionalism on all levels and understand the importance of the work they perform; and,

WHEREAS, March 2022 marks the 75^th Anniversary of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), which initially formed to help state procurement effectively and efficiently distribute surplus World War II materials and continues to connect state procurement offices across the country for education and networking; and,

WHEREAS, this month also commemorates the 30^th anniversary of NASPO ValuePoint and its predecessor, the Western States Contracting Alliance, created to offer cooperative purchasing solutions for the benefit of the states and continuing to offer high value, reliable, and competitively sourced contracts, and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2022 as Procurement Month in Michigan.