COURSE DATES: October 5th – November 20th, 2026   Contact Hours (Credits):12

Course Description:

This seven-week introductory course offers a practical foundation in the principles and practices of public procurement within state government. Learners will explore the full procurement lifecycle—from planning and solicitation to contract administration and closeout—while emphasizing the importance of ethics, transparency, and best practices. By the end of the course, participants will have a well-rounded understanding of how procurement supports effective and accountable government operations.

• Introduction
• Procurement Method Selection
• Solicitation Development
• Evaluations
• Negotiations, Contract & Award
• Contract Administration & Retirement

Suggested Audience: Any public sector professional new to procurement or seeking to gain a basic understanding of the procurement process.

Overall Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the course participants will be able to:

• Identify the steps of the procurement process in state government.
• Define public procurement.
• Discuss the ways public procurement adds value to operations.
• Recognize the value of a code of ethics in procurement.
• Identify examples of potential unethical behaviors.
• Identify your state’s statutes and policies.
• Analyze how statutes impact the selection of the most appropriate procurement method.
• Describe key concepts in developing a solicitation and their application in the solicitation process.
• Summarize the stages of the negotiation process.
• Define contract administration.
• Describe the key activities typically involved contract administration.

Course Syllabus