Course

Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting

  • Date: 03/26/2025 - 03/28/2025
  • Start Time: 8:00 AM Eastern Time
  • End Time: 5:00 PM Eastern Time
  • Instructor: Mr. Kirk W. Buffington, MLS, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, FNIGP, MBA, C.P.M.
    Director, (RETIRED), Finance, Risk Management, Procurement
    Mr. Kirk W. Buffington, MLS, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, FNIGP, MBA, C.P.M.
    Professional Certification(s) obtained: FNIGP, CPPO, C.P.M., NIGP-CPP Experience: Kirk Buffington retired in June 2019 from the City of Fort Lauderdale, FL, where he had spent the last five years as Director of Finance, Risk Management and Procurement. Services. Before serving in that capacity, he served the City as Deputy Director of Finance, Director of Procurement Services, and Deputy Director of Administrative Services. Before coming to the City of Fort Lauderdale, Kirk was the Purchasing Agent for Osceola County, FL. In addition, Kirk has purchasing experience with the Orange County School Board, as a Grocery Buyer with the Wal-Mart Corporation, and as a Receiving Supervisor with the Walt Disney World Co. Kirk has a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida State University and an M.B.A. from Webster University, St. Louis, MO, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management. In August 2023, he received a Masters in Legal Studies (M.L.S.) from the University of Cincinnati Law School. Kirk has also completed the Cornell University's certification program in Cybersecurity Leadership. Mr. Buffington served as President of the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers and was elected to the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Board of Directors in July 2003, and served as President of NIGP from 2008-2009. Kirk received the 2013 Distinguished Service Award, the second-highest honor bestowed upon individuals by NIGP in the public procurement profession. In August 2023, Kirk became a Fellow of NIGP. In addition to his activities with NIGP, Mr. Buffington has also served the National Purchasing Institute, NPI, on their Selection and Evaluation Committee for the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Kirk was chair of the NIGP FORUM Selection Committee, Mr. Buffington co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing,” now in its third edition, and has published numerous articles in the NIGP Tech Bulletin and various articles concerning Procurement Case Law both in local news blogs and in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals. He currently authors the Legally Speaking blog for NIGP. Kirk has been an NIGP Instructor for over twenty years and has taught numerous classes on multiple topics in those twenty years. His specialties include PCard adoption and usage, legal and compliance issues, business and finance-related topics and issues, risk management, and strategic planning.
  • Level: Foundation
  • Format: Virtual Instructor-Led
  • Contact Hours: 24
  • CEUs: 2.4
Skills in sourcing, contracting, and negotiation are crucial for procurement professionals to meet stakeholder needs effectively. NIGP’s Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting is a comprehensive, practical learning experience focusing on these essential skills. This course equips learners with actionable solutions to challenging procurement topics and best practices advocated by NIGP. By mastering these foundational skills, professionals can enhance their performance, advance their careers, and excel in the dynamic field of public procurement.
Pricing:
PriceCostBeginsEnds
Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting (Member: Early)$520.00 01/25/2025
Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting (Member: Standard)$650.0001/26/202503/24/2025
Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting (Non-Member: Standard)$750.00 03/24/2025
Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting (Member: Early) $520.00
Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting (Non-Member: Standard) $750.00
(prices valid until Jan 25, 2025)
Spots available: 24

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the certificate, the certificate holder will be able to:

  • Identify the appropriate source selection method and describe the components required to successfully meet the needs of the end user.
  • Identify advantages and disadvantages of contracting for commodities.
  • Assist the end user in developing and preparing effective and open specifications, pricing strategies, and terms and conditions to promote maximum competition in the marketplace.
  • Evaluate offers, make awards and/or negotiate an optimal contract solution.
  • Identify and describe the different types of evaluation methodologies and their associated application.
  • Explain the process of receiving, opening and analyzing offers, methods for award, and award strategies.
  • Identify and select the most responsive offer(s) and responsible supplier(s).
  • Prepare to conduct a negotiation by engaging in market research, determining negotiating strategy and goals, and selecting the negotiating team.
  • Conduct and document negotiations with each selected offeror to determine the proposal that best meets entity needs.
  • Establish a performance assessment plan to ensure that all stakeholders are complying with the procurement as established in the contract.

Intended Audience

This offering is targeted to individuals who meet or exceed the following professional demographics:  

  • Entry-level public procurement and central warehouse professionals who serve as assistants, coordinators, buyers, or equivalent functions within their respective entities.   

  • Non-procurement managers and supervisors who are responsible for either the procurement function or staff who provide procurement functions under delegated authority.   

  • Professionals who are employed by governing entities and special authorities (such as K-12 and higher education, publicly-owned utilities, transportation providers, and other publicly-funded or created organizations) that either serve within or manage the procurement function.  

  • Suppliers or representatives of suppliers seeking to understand the public procurement function from a holistic level, including the policies, standards, and procedures by which public entities must function.  


Completion Requirements

In order to successfully complete the NIGP Foundations of Sourcing & Contracting Core Certificate, learners must:

  • Complete any pre-work materials provided prior to the course start date.
  • Attend and participate in the entirety of the instructional event.
  • Complete the post-course evaluation survey available in Aspire.
  • Complete the final assessment examination with a 87% or higher within a 120-minute time period.

Competency Alignment

This certificate is designed as an exercise-based learning experience and is tied to NIGP’s Public Procurement Competency Framework. Upon completion of the certificate requirements, learners will have demonstrated the successful knowledge, skills, and abilities in alignment with the following competencies:

  • Sourcing & Contracting Methods
  • Specification Development
  • Evaluation Methods
  • Negotiations Strategies
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Miscellaneous

Payment Information

  • Register online with credit card
  • Register online and upload a Purchase Order
  • Register by fax and download the print & fax form

*FORM OF PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY REGISTRATION FORM FOR ORDER TO BE PROCESSED

Methods of Payment Accepted: Check (make checks payable to NIGP), Purchase Orders (via print and fax form or online), and Credit Cards (Master Card, Visa, and American Express).

If paying by check, please make check payable to NIGP and send payment to:
NIGP, Attn: Seminar Registration
440 Monticello Avenue Suite 1802
PMB 63452
Norfolk, VA 23510


Sessions

Cancellation Policy

Registration and payment must be received 24 hours prior to the course start date. After this time, registrations will be based on space availability.  A full refund, less a $75 administrative fee will be given for cancellations made in writing 31+ days prior to the seminar date by emailing RegistrationInfo@nigp.org. No refunds are given for cancellations received within 24 hours of the seminar start date. There are no refunds for no-shows. If the seminar is cancelled for any reason, NIGP's liability is limited to the registration fee only.  

Attendee substitutions within the same agency may be done at any time with email notification to NIGP. If attending via scholarship, please provide documentation verifying the scholarship issuer's name and contact information in lieu of payment information. 

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Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting

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