Lexington, KY – The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) and the Federal Procurement Agency Austria (BBG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a partnership dedicated to advancing transparency, efficiency, sustainability, and innovation within the public procurement sector.

The partnership reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening public procurement systems as a cornerstone of good governance, sustainable development, and responsible public spending.

Under the MOU, the partners will collaborate on key initiatives to improve the professionalism and integrity of public procurement mechanisms. Specifically, the partnership will focus on:

• Promoting professionalization and capacity-building through training, mentorship, and institutional development programs;
• Strengthening knowledge-sharing on pressing challenges and emerging trends in procurement policy and practice; and
• Facilitating the exchange of best practices and lessons learned in reforming the legal, institutional, and technological frameworks that underpin modern public procurement systems, as well as developing human capital and innovative methodologies.

“At NASPO, we believe that strong procurement systems are foundational to good governance,” said Lindle Hatton, NASPO Chief Executive Officer. “Our MOU with BBG deepens our ability to advance that belief on an international scale – sharing best practices and building institutional frameworks that make procurement more transparent, sustainable, and effective.”

Through this collaboration, NASPO and BBG seek to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation among procurement professionals and institutions across the United States and Europe. The MOU marks an exciting and important step forward in creating more transparent, accountable, and sustainable procurement processes on a global scale to deliver better value and outcomes for citizens.

“NASPO and BBG share a long‑term vision that public procurement systems must be transparent, accountable, and continuously evolving,” said Gerhard Zotter, Managing Director of BBG. “This partnership is also a strong commitment to the professionalization of public procurement. By learning from each other’s approaches, exchanging best practices, and jointly investing in skills, knowledge, and innovation, we can accelerate progress and create lasting impact for procurement communities in Europe, the United States, and beyond.”

About NASPO: NASPO® is a non–profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members achieve success as public procurement leaders through the promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. www.naspo.org

About BBG:

The Austrian Federal Procurement Agency (Bundesbeschaffung GmbH – BBG) is the central purchasing body of the Republic of Austria. BBG supports public sector organizations at federal, regional, and local level by providing efficient, transparent, and legally compliant procurement solutions. In addition to its operational procurement services, BBG is actively engaged in consulting, professionalization, and international cooperation, promoting best practices, innovation, and continuous learning in public procurement across Austria and Europe. Home | Bundesbeschaffung GmbH