The DC Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), under the direction of the Chief Procurement Officer, was established by DC law in 1997 and provides contracting services for selected agencies and offices in the District. The mission of OCP is to partner with vendors and District agencies to purchase quality goods and services in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost while ensuring that all purchasing actions are conducted fairly and impartially.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Greetings OCP,

As 2021 draws to a close, I am reminded of the many things we accomplished this year and how truly thankful I am to have such an incredible team. This year proved to be a momentous year for OCP. We procured a record number of goods, services, and construction on behalf of 79 District government agencies and generated record revenue through our Surplus Property Division. We also continued to support Mayor Bowser in the District’s ongoing emergency response activities. I believe these record achievements serve as a testament to our team and its exceptional talent, dedication, and professionalism.

Each of us has a unique responsibility in the success of the agency. When we work together, we create a powerful momentum that drives our government forward. In all that we do here at OCP, we must never forget the important role we play as public servants and how we impact the lives of District residents.

My wish for you this season is that you remember to be kind to yourself and recognize your value, both personally and professionally. As you wake up every morning, acknowledge and embrace who you are.

Season’s greetings, OCP family!

Respectfully,

George Schutter Chief Procurement Officer

FEATURED NEWS

Symposium Summary

On Tuesday, October 26, the Office of Contracting & Procurement Training Institute hosted the OCP Annual Procurement Symposium, held both in-person and virtually. The Symposium, held annually, is an opportunity for District government procurement professionals to gather with peers and industry leaders to share knowledge and sharpen skills in contract management and procurement. The motto of this year's Symposium was "Empowering and embracing change in public procurement" to mark the changes in public procurement law and best practices brought on as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. An agenda for the symposium is available online. OCP's Chief Procurement Officer George Schutter kicked off the symposium followed by Assistant City Administrator for Internal Services Lindsey Parker — both providing opening remarks. Erik Moses, the President of Nashville Superspeedway and this year’s keynote speaker, spoke about his extensive history working within the District government and how it changed his previous perceptions of public service and government operations. Mr. Moses and OCP's Chief Learning Officer David Gragan then led a discussion on the importance of innovation in government as well as the crucial role of public service and how working together is necessary to benefit all District citizens. Following this discussion, attendees participated in breakout sessions that were led by OCP's subject matter experts as well as guest speakers. A recording of the Symposium, including the individual breakout sessions, is available and can be viewed on OCP's SharePoint Portal.

GENERAL AGENCY UPDATES

OCP Telephone Directory The telephone directory is now maintained, viewed, and downloaded from SharePoint. Pro tip: be sure to bookmark the link below in your browser for easy access. To view the OCP Telephone Directory, click here.

2021 DC Government Holiday Schedule Friday, December 24, 2021*: Christmas Day Friday, December 31, 2021*: New Year's Day *Date Observed

UPCOMING PROCUREMENT TRAINING

Procurement Training Institute (PTI) Course Offerings   For a list of upcoming training opportunities, visit PTI's SharePoint site.   You can register for the available trainings in PeopleSoft.

DISTRICT NEWS

• Mayor Bowser Delivers COVID-19 Situational Update for December 20, 2021
• Mayor Bowser Unveils COVID-19 Action Plan
• Slowing the Spread | You Need to Get Vaccinated/Boosted Now
• Mayor Bowser Unveils New Tools to Add Affordable Housing
• Mayor Bowser Chooses New Design for Connecticut Avenue NW, Repurposing Reversible Rush-Hour Lanes with New Protected Bike Lanes
• Mayor Bowser to Provide Update on the Housing Equity Report’s Progress in Rock Creek West
• Mayor Bowser Releases the 2022 Green Book, the District’s Small Business Enterprise Opportunity Guide

 Do you have a story idea that you think would be great for next month's OCP Newsletter, email: cody.leihgeber-carpenter@dc.gov

NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: This Newsletter includes hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The DC Office of Contracting & Procurement (OCP) provides these links and pointers solely for information and convenience. When selecting a link to an outside website, you are leaving www.ocp.dc.gov (OCP Website) and are subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website. The inclusion of links and pointers to websites or information is not intended to assign importance to those websites or to the information contained on those websites. It is also not intended to endorse or recommend any views expressed or products or services offered on these websites. OCP does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of information contained on a linked website. OCP does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views expressed or the products/services offered. OCP cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked websites. Visitors must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked website. OCP is not responsible for transmissions to visitors from linked websites. By accessing this website and Newsletter, visitors hereby consent to OCP’s use, for any lawful purpose, of all information collected from visitors, including email addresses.