School District Recognized for its Procurement Practices
Jennifer Sulentic of U.S. Communities presents DMPS purchasing manager Mark Mattiussi an award for the district’s procurement practices.
Des Moines Public Schools was honored by the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance for the school district’s innovative and efficient procurement practices.
Jennifer Sulentic, regional manager for the Alliance, said: “As a participating member of U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance, I am pleased to inform you that the Des Moines Independent Community School District has been identified as a key enthusiast for innovative procurement practices, and has shown this through continually utilizing several of the U. S. Communities contract offerings.”
U.S. Communities is a nonprofit government purchasing cooperative that reduces the cost of goods and services for participating public agencies by aggregating their purchasing power nationwide. It is the only cooperative purchasing program founded by the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the Association of School Business Officials, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The use of the U.S. Communities contracts have demonstrated cost savings thereby stretching public tax dollars through best value public procurement. As an example, Des Moines Public School recently leased copier/fax/scanner machines through the U.S. Communities program; the annual savings over the next lowest bidder’s product meeting specifications was $31,000, or more than $150,000 over the five year lease.
Added Sulentic: “Because of your agency’s dedicated support to the principles of effective and efficient governmental purchasing principles embodied within the U. S. Communities program, we along with the Association of School Business Officials International and the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing would like to thank you and your staff as well as recognize the Purchasing Office at the Des Moines Independent Community Unit School District, with the ‘U.S. Communities Customer Appreciation Award of Purchasing Excellence.'”
