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Colorado Procurement News

December, 2023

News for the Statewide Procurement Community from the State Purchasing and Contracts Office

From the CPO

Another year has flown by, and as we prepare for 2024 I hope you are all able spend time doing the things you enjoy the most. Whether it's celebrating holidays with family and friends, or a snowy mountain hike with your dog, making time for the things that make you happy is so important! 

Happy Howlidays 🐾,

Sherri Maxwell, CPPB
Chief Procurement Officer

2023 Advance Colorado Procurement Expo

This year the Advance Colorado Procurement Expo was held in conjunction with the RMGPA Winter Conference in Loveland. It was also the first time the Expo has been held in-person since 2019, and the turnout was huge! 

Thomas Wilson and Barb Musick represented the SPCO at our table in the exhibit hall, talking to vendors about how to do business with the State, and to procurement professionals from State and local government about our State Price Agreements. 

Barb also moderated a panel for vendors during lunch, titled “What’s Next: How to Execute a Successful Contract After Securing the Winning Bid”. The information the panelists shared focused on how vendors can help ensure their own success as well as build a mutually beneficial relationship with the agency.

Nikki Pollack also gave a presentation to the RMGPA attendees on State Price Agreements, but managed to avoid having her picture taken. 

It was a great event with a strong SPCO presence! Thank you to everyone who attended our sessions and visited our booth!

2023 Excellence in Procurement Award

This year, we received 17 nominations for 14 procurement professionals who are doing outstanding work. The Executive Procurement Advisory Council (Exec PAC) had the difficult task of choosing just one winner, and this year it is... Dan Findlay from the Department of Natural Resources! As the Parks & Wildlife Procurement Director, Dan is known as a kind and generous leader who always shares the credit with his staff. Congratulations, Dan!

Please visit our Exec PAC webpage to view the "Award Ceremony" video and to read the full nominations.

We'd also like to recognize the other nominees, each of whom is truly making a difference with their work: 

• Amanda Carroll, Department of Personnel & Administration
• Kathy Chang, Department of Agriculture
• Toby Erxleben, Department of Human Services
• Tina Fay, Department of Corrections
• James Gellenbeck, Pikes Peak State College
• Lisa Hollarback, Department of Transportation
• Suzanne Kubec, Department of Personnel & Administration
• Cynthia Miley, Health Care Policy & Financing
• Sandy Schweitzer, Department of Personnel & Administration
• Robert Sleeth, Department of Education
• Anna Stern, Department of Natural Resources
• Michael Van Ausdel, Department of Natural Resources
• Elizabeth Wills, Department of Education

Congratulations to Dan, and thank you to all of the nominees for everything you do for the State of Colorado!

Public Hearing to Consider Creation of 8 CCR 1501-11, Technology Accessibility Rules

The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) will hold a public hearing on January 23, 2024, to consider the creation of permanent rule 8 CCR 1501-11, Technology Accessibility Rules. This public hearing will commence at 1:00 p.m. online, and interested parties may register and attend through Zoom. All interested persons are urged to attend this public hearing and to submit written comments to OIT for consideration concerning the proposed rule creation.

For more information and to sign up to be notified of rulemaking updates and opportunities, please visit OIT's Hearings & Rulemaking webpage.

REMINDER: Accessibility & Procurement

As the State's accessibility standards continue to evolve, its important that we all stay up-to-date on the latest developments. OIT, who is responsible for these standards, has a webpage dedicated to Accessibility for Procurement. They also publish a monthly accessibility newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. 

Accessibility requirements are also included in the SPCO's solicitation and contract templates. Click to edit this placeholder text.

Did You Know?

If you're a Contract Management System (CMS) user and you run into any issues, or if you have a question, you should reach out to your Agency Authorized Point of Contact. If they are unable to resolve the issue, they can then reach out to Sandy Schweitzer for further assistance.

Live Procurement Training

These training courses are currently being offered via Zoom. Visit the SPCO Procurement Training page for more information. 

Statutory Violations Prevention
1/9/2024 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Register
3/12/2024 | 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Register

Controller Pre-Delegation Training
2/20/2024 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Register
5/21/2024 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Register

Contract Drafting Boot Camp
12/28/2023 | 8:00am - 3:00pm
Register
4/25/2024 | 8:00am - 3:00pm
Register

COPROU Procurement Learning Library

These training courses are available to State procurement professionals through the Colorado Procurement University (COPROU). Visit the SPCO Procurement Training page for more information. 

Basic Procurement Certification

• Foundations of State Procurement 
• Methods of Source Selection 
• Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
• Overview of Commitment Documents 
• Statutory Violations and Unauthorized Purchases 

Procurement Official Series

• Procurement Official Training  
• Protests and Appeals Processes  

Purchasing Certification

• Documented Quotes - Coming Soon!

Contact thomas.wilson@state.co.us with questions about training. 

Reminder: All NASPO-designed

Procurement U courses are now free!

The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) offers all of their Foundational Procurement courses for free! 

Visit Procurement U to view the course offerings, which include:

• Agency Relations
• Building an Inclusive Organization
• Creative Problem Solving, and more!

You can create a free Procurement U account and sign up for these courses here. Note that most Procurement U courses are self-paced, so you can start them at any time.

Questions? Email procurementu@naspo.org.

Name: Nancy Kay Clark (She/They)

Title: Procurement Specialist

Organization: Department of Health Care Policy & Financing

Tell us a little bit about your background:  I have lived in so many wonderful places, from Pennsylvania to Ireland, but I decided to call Colorado home for good in the 1990s. Anyone who has gotten to know me knows I love animals, and I keep myself busy on my little acreage with two senior horses, 12 chickens (including two “house-chickens”), a senior cat, and a 2-year-old American Eskimo Dog. My associates degree is in Veterinary Technology, and my bachelor’s degree is in Business, with a Nonprofit Management certification.

How long have you been with your current organization? I started with HCPF (and the State) a little over 1½ years ago.

How did you get into the procurement field? My husband had just died, and I needed to come out of my early retirement to return to work. I needed something where I could work from home and stay near my animals. A writer who I proofread for, and who knew my business background, suggested this field to me. I had no idea how much the work would suit me, nor how much I would enjoy it, and now I’m making a career of it… in my 50’s!

Did you work in other professions, and if so where and for how long? My background is eclectic, from working with horses and children in Ireland, to customer service for semiconductor test systems, veterinary technology, nonprofit management, and many adventures in between. Before coming to HCPF, I was on the management team for Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, one of the largest canine health studies in the country. I was with Morris Animal Foundation for ten years before retiring early, so I could spend time with my husband when he retired.

Please share a professional or personal accomplishment you're proud of:  In my role on the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, I gave a lot of presentations, which can be challenging for someone nervous in large groups. The first big one was to a few hundred fellow veterinary technicians. I remember clinging to the podium and my face turning red, but I faced my fear. The talks became easier over time, and one of the most delightful was presenting an update on the study to Morris Animal Foundation’s Board of Directors. This was when Betty White (TV actress known for her sweet & sassy characters, and her animal activism) was still attending the Board meetings. Each time I glanced her way, she was fully engaged and encouraging. Her dedication to the animals was real and infectious. I still get nervous presenting, but now I have that memory to bolster me whenever I start to doubt myself.

Tell us something interesting and unique about yourself: I’m certified in Death and Grief Studies, so I can talk to you about the grieving process and answer your “Is this normal?” questions about your responses to loss. I trained in this field to have tools to help people when their dogs reached the end of their lives, and I trained my customer service team on pet loss support as well.

State Price Agreement Updates

• The current agreement with CDW for Software VAR will expire on December 31, 2023. SPCO is wrapping up negotiations with CDW on a new contract. You can contact Theresa Fraijo with any questions. 
• A new contract with Safeware, through Omnia Partners, for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Goods and Services has been signed. Please reach out to Brian Swift for more information.
• The current agreements for EV charging station equipment have been extended. Check BIDSColorado or reach out to Amy Risley for more information.
• Negotiations with vendors for new agreements for Security and Fire Protection Services are ongoing. Contact Mandy Zila for more information. 
• The recent solicitation for Toner has been awarded and contracts are being negotiated. Please reach out to Brian Swift for more information.