Sound Transit receives distinguished award for outstanding procurement Practices
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing has awarded Seattle-area's Sound Transit its Pareto Award of Excellence in Public Procurement for outstanding achievements in procurement.
The award recognizes the agency’s Procurements and Contracts Division for distinguished best practices in six areas of procurement: leadership, strategic planning, customer service, process management, technology and performance improvement.
“This award reflects the importance Sound Transit places on managing the public’s dollars effectively. By awarding our contracts through fair and competitive procurements, we make sure taxpayer funding stretches as far as possible,” said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. “I am proud of our Procurements and Contracts Division and the many staff throughout the agency whose hard work earned this honor. They are critical to Sound Transit’s success in delivering projects and services that provide thousands of local jobs and serve the more than 82,000 riders and counting who take advantage of our trains and buses each day.”
In granting its top distinction to the agency, the NIGP commended Sound Transit for instituting policies and procedures that ensure fairness and transparency in its procurement process. Sound Transit is the eighth public agency in the nation to receive the honor.
“Your operation stands tall in serving as a prime example of professionalism and proficiency in public procurement; and your organization’s effectiveness not only serves your taxpayers well but advances the procurement profession as a whole,” said Rick Grimm, chief executive officer of NIGP.
Sound Transit officially received the award during the 67th Annual NIGP Forum and Products Exposition on Monday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.
