Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration is highlighting National Procurement Month by recognizing modernization achievements made by the Department of General Services (DGS), Bureau of Procurement (BOP) and agency procurement professionals in purchasing goods and services to support Pennsylvanians’ needs every day.
From the purchase of IT infrastructure and software that connects residents to medical care and social services to the procurement of road salt used to clear snow-covered roads, procurement professionals work behind the scenes to ensure Pennsylvanians have full access to critical services, medicines, goods, and job and business opportunities.
"Making state government more approachable for all citizens has been a focus of the Shapiro-Davis Administration since day one,” said DGS Secretary Reggie McNeil. “DGS’ ultimate goal of providing better services to the people of Pennsylvania is rooted in making the prospect of doing business with state agencies less intimidating and streamlining outdated and confusing processes. DGS’ BOP plays a crucial role in securing the goods and services that Pennsylvanians depend upon each and every day, never forgetting that they are the stewards of taxpayer resources."
As the Commonwealth's central procurement bureau, BOP is responsible for the purchase of goods and services necessary for the safe and effective operations of the state, including securing vehicle contracts that allow Pennsylvania State Police to protect residents and park rangers to patrol state parks, purchasing life-saving medicines the Commonwealth provides to Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents, securing contracts to staff medical facilities, delivering counseling services, and opening doors to an array of business opportunities.
"The entire BOP team at DGS is exceptionally focused on the seriousness of its work,” said Brian Esposito, Deputy Secretary for Procurement. “Every day, I see the dedication and commitment to the bureau’s mission of improving the delivery of our procurement services – and our immediate goal to streamline internal processes, lower procurement costs, and continue making the Commonwealth a trusted, cost-conscious partner that businesses want to work with.”
Recent efforts to modernize Commonwealth procurement practices have included:
- BOP recently underwent a comprehensive modernization process to streamline the procurement process for both Commonwealth agencies and businesses who work with the state. To alleviate duplicative or unnecessary work, BOP announced the rescission of two commonly used forms, reducing processing time by at least 10 days.
- DGS/BOP has established a resource with a leading online marketplace to increase its volume of procurements from small and local businesses. Since July of 2024, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has spent approximately $650,000 on necessary goods and services from small/local businesses through the program.
- More than 4,500 commonwealth procurement professionals have benefited from enhanced training made available by BOP. This training has ensured that all end users are well-versed in best practices and has helped to eliminate delays in the procurement process.
- This past September, Sec. McNeil signed Policy Directive 2024-01, to allow for more opportunities for small businesses to provide goods and services and expanding the Small Business Reserve Program. State agencies may now purchase goods and services from DGS registered Small Businesses for up to $25,000.
- BOP created a Facilities Maintenance Invitation to Qualify (ITQ) that allows agencies to make multiple purchases from the same vendor for services up to $2,500 without a time-consuming process. Agencies who choose to utilize the ITQ can now move more quickly to address small facility repairs and get back to work sooner.
- BOP created an Emergency Care Services ITQ to serve as an additional resource to support county and local organizations affected by disasters. Agencies that have a duty to respond to emergencies may utilize this ITQ to quickly procure life-saving services and respond to disasters more efficiently.
To learn more about DGS and BOP, visit the DGS website.
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