NASPO publishes third edition of “State and Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide”

The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) has released the third edition of its flagship publication, “State and Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide.” First published in 2008 and updated in 2015, this guide is an indispensable reference tool for both new and experienced government procurement professionals.

“Whether you’re a career procurement professional, a student seeking to learn about procurement, a supplier doing business with government or an educator teaching a procurement course, the Practical Guide is a valuable resource,” said NASPO President Lisa Eason, of Georgia. “This guide should be on the bookshelves of all procurement staff—from seasoned procurement professionals to those just entering the workforce or new to the field of procurement.”

Keeping pace with changes in procurement trends, the third edition of the Practical Guide has several new features, including IT procurement, sustainable purchasing and the use of eProcurement systems. The latest guide also includes expanded narratives on procurement planning, source selection methods, evaluation of bids and proposals, quality assurance and contract management.

Each chapter of the 2019 edition includes a comprehensive list of recommended best practices for that specific chapter topic. Enhanced cross-referencing within each chapter is also used to demonstrate the interrelationships among all of the subject matters addressed.

Also new to the 2019 edition of the Practical Guide is a glossary of commonly used terms, as well as a directory of frequently used acronyms and abbreviations in the procurement field. The final element that has been newly incorporated into the third edition is the use of callouts within the text to highlight important concepts related to contract negotiations, an increasingly critical part of the modern procurement process.

Copies of “State and Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide” are available for purchase at here. The cost of the publication is $65. A discount of 10 percent will be applied to orders of 10 copies or more.

In support of NASPO’s ongoing efforts to elevate the profession of public procurement through partnerships with institutions of higher learning, NASPO is offering a special discounted rate of $45 for students.

Updates and revisions to the new Practical Guide were executed by NASPO staff with the leadership and guidance of a steering committee comprised of current and former state procurement professionals.

“The process of updating this book has truly been a collaborative effort,” said Dianne Lancaster, NASPO’s Chief Learning Officer. “This endeavor would not have been possible without the dedication of our outstanding volunteers and exceptional staff.”