The Georgia Department of Transportation’s Office of Procurement-Operational Procurement Section won this year’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute, Inc. For 23 years, the institute has recognized public and nonprofit organizations that excel in procurement innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership. Georgia DOT is one of only 13 agencies in Georgia and one of only eight state agencies in the United States and Canada to receive this award.

According to Mary Zirock, Assistant Chief Procurement Officer, the department’s Procurement Operations section excelled on improving processes and standards in a variety of areas particularly as it relates to the recent addition of the Transportation Funding Act which passed in 2015 by the Georgia Legislature. The passage of TFA raised the department’s status among other state agencies as a billion dollar organization and the ninth largest transportation intermodal network in the country.
 
“We are honored to be recognized as a recipient of the 2018 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award and one of only 8 state agencies in the United States and Canada to receive this award,” said Zirock. “We are proud to join the ranks of our professional peers as we continue to move the department forward. With our supportive leadership and our topnotch team, we will continue to drive change and be leaders within the procurement profession in the State of Georgia and across the nation,” Zirock added.

For the award, NPI evaluated 18 focus areas that specifically addressed Procurement Ethics Standards; eManuals for Procurement and Pcard Policy/Procedures; Professional Development Program; Internal/External Customer Survey; Internal/External Customer Training; Formal Supplier/Contractor Training; Performance Metrics and Centralized Procurement Functions to name a few.

Other national organizations have recognized GDOT over the years for its programs and projects. Procurement Operations has been recognized internally by GDOT leadership, but this is the first National award bestowed on this office adding to the Georgia DOT legacy of being simply the best in transportation.