Orange County Water District's Purchasing Department Honored With Award

The Purchasing Department at Orange County Water District (OCWD) was awarded with the 2003 Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Purchasing Institute. This national award is presented to public and non-profit organizations who demonstrate and encourage excellence in procurement -- or purchasing -- by obtaining a high score on standardized criteria measuring innovation, professionalism, productivity and leadership attributes of the purchasing function.

OCWD's Purchasing Department is one of sixty-three organizations in the United States to receive this award and one of only thirty-three nationwide to receive the award at least four times. Recipients of this award must achieve 100 points on the standardized criteria of excellence application. Some criteria for achieving this award include publishing a "How to do Business" with the agency booklet, publishing and operating by an "Ethics" policy statement, establishing a formal buyer training program, utilizing electronic commerce by having a home page with a direct link to purchasing activities, having a comprehensive inventory system maintained by the purchasing department and participating in a national or regional conference as a presenter or panel member.

The 2003 Excellence in Procurement Award is sponsored by the National Purchasing Institute, Inc., California Association of Public Purchasing Officers, Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers and the Institute for Supply Management. Other organizations who received the 2003 Excellence in Procurement Award are from counties, cities, school districts and universities throughout the country.

Source: Orange County Water District