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Public Purchasing

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Register for Courses

Enroll now in one of our upcoming classes or seminars.

To register with a Purchase Order (PO) complete the Registration Form and email along with a copy of the PO to cgs@docs.rutgers.edu

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For questions about registration, please contact:

Louis (Lou) Demian

Program Assistant
848-932-4739
E-mail

Overview

The Center for Government Services at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers this series of courses for those interested in increasing their knowledge of public purchasing, as well as public officials desiring the State of New Jersey's Qualified Purchasing Agent certification and/or the Rutgers University Registered Public Purchasing Official (RPPO) or the Registered Public Purchasing Specialist (RPPS) certificate.

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54th Annual Rutgers University Public Purchasing Educational Forum

April 23-25, 2024
Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City

Click HERE for More Information

Vendor Registration

 

New! LPCL Resource Documents: Click  Here

To receive notifications on the latest updates for the LPCL Resources, please fill in the FORM.

ASYNCHRONOUS courses:

Students log-in at a time of their choosing and their attendance is recorded automatically. These courses ARE NOT self-paced; there is a weekly schedule of assignments and work submissions beginning the first week of classes and opportunities for live, remote interaction.

Course Schedule

All registrations for online/distant learning and in-person courses must be received NO LATER than three business days before the class begins. Late registrations will NOT be accepted.

Please visit the Registration page for important information regarding online course expectations and registration.

Principles of Public Purchasing 1
PP-2201-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-1

1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10

10:00a-4:00p

Anna Marie Wright

$944.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-2

1/8-2/04 (1/11*, 1/18*, 1/25*, 2/1*)

7:00p-8:00p

Suzanne Taylor

$944.00

Online: Canvas hybrid. * live 1-hour sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-3

2/6, 2/8, 2/13, 2/15, 2/20, 2/22, 2/27, 2/29, 3/5, 3/7

5:00p-8:00p

Sonia Alves-Viveiros

$944.00

Online Webex: all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-4

2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26

5:00p-10:00p

Rick Thomas

$944.00

Online Webex, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-5

2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23

9:00a-3:00p

Mike Rizzo

$944.00

In person: Ocean County Fire and First Aid Training Center 

Register


Course Code: PP-2201-SP24-6

3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22

9:00p-2:00p

Laura Scutary

$944.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Principles of Public Purchasing 2
PP-2202-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2202-SP24-1

1/8, 1/10, 1/15, 1/17, 1/22, 1/24, 1/29, 1/31, 2/5, 2/7

5:00p-8:00p

Maureen Schanne

$944.00

Online: Zoom, all live

Register


Course Code: PP-2202-SP24-2

2/7-3/8 (2/7*, 2/14*, 2/21*, 2/28*, 3/6*)

4:30p-6:30p 

Gerald Reiner

$944.00

Online Canvas: hybrid. * live 2-hour sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2202-SP24-3

2/28-4/3 (2/28*, 3/6*, 3/13*, 3/20*, 3/27*)

12:00p-1:00p

Melissa Kosenski

$944.00

Online: Zoom, hybrid. * live 1-hour sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2202-SP24-4

3/25, 3/27, 4/1, 4/3, 4/8, 4/10, 4/15, 4/17, 4/22, 4/24, 4/29, 5/1, 5/6, 5/8, 5/13

5:30p-7:30p

Jessica Hannold

$944.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Principles of Public Purchasing 3
PP-2203-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2203-SP24-1

1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15

9:00a-12:00p

Justine Progebin

$944.00

Online Canvas, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2203-SP24-2

2/12-3/10 (2/15*, 2/22*, 2/29*, 3/07*)

7:00p-8:00p

Suzanne Taylor

$944.00

Online Canvas, hybrid. * live 1-hour sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2203-SP24-3

2/26-3/27 (2/26*, 3/4*, 3/11*, 3/18*, 3/25*)

9:00a-12:00p

Millicent Davis

$944.00

Online: Webex, hybrid. * live 3-hour sessions

Register


Municipal Finance Administration for Public Purchasing Professionals
PP-2204-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2204-SP24-1

2/5-3/4

Asynchronous

Gerald Reiner

$821.00

Online: Canvas

Register


Course Code: PP-2204-SP24-2

4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2

9:00a-3:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$821.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Introduction to Public Purchasing
PP-2210-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2210-SP24-1

3/22

10:00a - 2:00p

Suzanne Taylor

$144.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2210-SP24-2

4/29

9:00a-1:00p

Laura Scutary

$144.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Specifications Research & Writing
PP-2211-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2211-SP24-1

3/13

1:00p-4:00p

James Jorgensen

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Basics of Green Purchasing
PP-2216-FA23
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2216-FA23-1

12/8

10:00a-1:00p

Suzanne Taylor

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2216-SP24-1

2/16

10:00a - 1:00p

Suzanne Taylor

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2216-SP24-2

3/6

1:00p-4:00p

James Jorgensen

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Ethics
PP-2220-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2220-SP24-1

2/7

9:00a-12:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Green Procurement 2
PP-2227-FA23
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2227-FA23-1

11/29

9:00a-12:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Course Code: PP-2227-SP24-1

5/22

9:00a-12:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


RFP to Negotiations – Taking a Deep Dive into the Practical Applications of Purchasing
PP-2232-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2232-SP24-1

4/3

9:00a-12:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Contract Administration for Purchasing Professionals
PP-2233-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2233-SP24-1

1/17

9:00a-12:00p

Susan Jacobucci

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


QPA Examination Review
PP-2240-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2240-SP24-1

3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17 

9:00a-1:30p

Nicola Reid, Justine Progebin

$575.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Training your Employees, Department Heads and Elected Officials
PP-2267-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2267-SP24-1

3/15

10:00a-1:00p

Gordon Ball

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Vendor Relations
PP-2268-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2268-SP24-1

3/8

10:00a-1:00p

Gordon Ball

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Shared Services- What to Know
PP-2269-SP24
Date(s)
Time(s)
Instructor(s)
Fee
Location(s)
Action

Course Code: PP-2269-SP24-1

3/22

10:00a-1:00p

Gordon Ball

$113.00

Online WebEx, all live sessions

Register


Courses

Municipal Finance Administration for public purchasing professionals expand
26 hours

This course is an introduction to the field of municipal finance and is designed to provide a foundation for a better understanding of New Jersey local government fiscal affairs. Major areas of instruction cover the institutional framework of local government in New Jersey, the state’s role in supervision and assistance, property tax administration and assessment administration, municipal caps, municipal budgeting, budget execution, municipal purchasing, and treasury management. A final exam is given.

Principles of Public Purchasing 1 expand
30 hours

This introduction to public purchasing acquaints  purchasing agents and other public officials responsible for purchasing with sound principles and practices. It covers the application of appropriate guidelines, techniques, and requirements for establishing a purchasing agency, and the basis to encumbering. Other topics include a discussion of intergovernmental cooperative purchasing, centralized purchasing, specification writing, the public contracts law, and related legislation. It also covers public procurement laws and corresponding rules and regulations. A final exam is given.

Principles of Public Purchasing 2 expand
30 hours
Prerequisite: Principles of Public Purchasing 1

This course emphasizes advanced information, ideas, and techniques for experienced public purchasing personnel. Topics covered include the Uniform Commercial Code, the Local Public Contracts Law and statutory applications in judicial decisions, the antitrust law, and ethical issues. A final exam is given.

Principles of Public Purchasing 3 expand
30 hours
Prerequisite: Principles of Public Purchasing 2

This course covers the competitive contracting process in public purchasing, with emphasis on bid specifications and Request for Proposals. It also discusses current procurement subjects in the purchasing field. Students are expected to complete class exercises and contribute to current issues discussions. A final exam is given.

Certificates

Rutgers Public Purchasing Certificate Program expand

Rutgers Center for Government Services awards the Registered Public Purchasing Official and Registered Public Purchasing Specialist certificates upon the successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2, and 3, and a Municipal Finance Administration course to candidates who have also must meet specific job responsibility requirements and designated time in service.

For RPPO/S application and renewal forms click below. For further information, call the Center for Government Services at 848-932-4739.

RPPO Application Form | RPPO Renewal Form | RPPS Application Form | RPPS Renewal Form

Registered Public Purchasing Official (RPPO) Criteria:

  • United States Citizenship;
  • Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of study in an approved secondary school or an academic education accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent;
  • Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2 and 3 courses, as well as a Municipal Finance Administration course. Successful completion requires 80% attendance at each course and a passing grade of 80% for each course’s examination;
  • Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) with administrative job responsibility such as the purchasing agent, charged with the purchasing responsibility on a day to day basis and authorized by the governing body to contract on behalf of the government unit, with supervisory responsibility for the management of people or programs in a purchasing environment for not less than 5 years;                 -OR -
  • Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) holding the RPPS certification, having worked directly under the supervision of an RPPO for a minimum of 3 years, and having been appointed to a position with administrative job responsibility such as the purchasing agent, charged with the purchasing responsibility on a day to day basis and authorized by the governing body to contract on behalf of the government unit, with supervisory responsibility for the management of people or programs in a purchasing environment for not less than 2 years.

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for 1 year of credit toward the service requirement of 5 years will be given for every 2 years of college credit. A minimum of 3 years experience in the public sector with appropriate job title and responsibility is required. No credit is given for time in the private sector.

Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a $25 application fee. 

Registered Public Purchasing Specialist  (RPPS) Criteria:

  • United States Citizenship;
  • Receipt of a certificate or diploma issued after completion of study in an approved secondary school or an academic education accepted by the Commissioner of Education of this state as fully equivalent;
  • Successful completion of Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2 and 3 courses, as well as a Municipal Finance Administration course. Successful completion requires 80% attendance at each course and a passing grade of 80% for each course’s examination;
  • Current service in the public sector (local, state, federal) in the general administration of the purchasing process for not less than three years.

NOTE: Waiver of time in position for 1 year of credit toward the service requirement of 3 years will be given for every 2 years of college credit. A minimum of 2 years experience in the public sector with appropriate job responsibility is required. No credit is given for time in the private sector.

Completed application form must be submitted with supporting material and a $25 application fee. 

Certification Renewals

Required credit for Recertification must include three (3) contact hours of “Ethics” for both RPPO and RPPS certificate holders. Remaining credits must be in Public Purchasing, of which three (3) may be in Management/Supervision subjects. The applicant is responsible for retaining all records of attendance, organization membership and program participation.

RPPO Certificate Renewals 

The certification renewal period is every three years. Twenty (20) continuing education contact hours must be earned over this period. 

RPPS Certificate Renewals 

The certification renewal period is every three years. Fifteen (15) continuing education contact hours must be earned over this period. 

Expired Certificates

Certificates 90 days or more past the expiration date are no longer considered valid. The holder of an invalid or lapsed certificate who is unable to accumulate the appropriate continuing education credit must take a written exam in order to renew the certification. To confirm the applicant’s knowledge of recent developments in the purchasing field, the exam stresses current issues. The exam will be given as deemed necessary by the number of requests received. Renewal will be dated from the month the applicant passes the exam. Certification renewal through examination is $50.

If an individual’s certification has lapsed and the exam option is not taken, the individual must wait a period of three years from the expiration date before being able to once again apply for the RPPO or RPPS certification. The applicant must have completed Principles of Public Purchasing 1, 2, and 3 courses not more than 10 years earlier. If the courses were taken prior to then, the courses must be retaken and successfully completed.

Continuing Education Credits 

Continuing education credit can be earned by attendance at seminars, workshops, classes or conferences and through numerous methods of professional development.

Attendance at Seminars, Workshops, Classes, and Conferences:

Credit is given based on hour-for-hour participation, not to exceed five (5) hours per program. Submitted documentation must indicate program title, date and 
number of continuing education contact hours earned.

Professional Development Credit Assignments: 

  • Acceptable records for submission include certificates of attendance, record of payment of dues, letters of appointment to committees, copies of published articles, copies of instructional material (20+ pages), proof of speaking engagements and teaching assignments.
  • 1 contact hour per membership per year in professional purchasing organizations (GPANJ/NIGP, etc.);    
  • 1 contact hour per meeting of above organizations;     
  • 1 contact hour per year for holding an office in state, county, and national professional purchasing organizations;
  • 1 contact hour per year for participation on standing or special committees for professional organizations;
  • 2 contact hours per publication of a signed article; 
  • 1 contact hour per chapter of instructional material;
  • 5 contact hours per teaching assignment for instructing in purchasing related courses lasting 5 or more hours;
  • Hour per hour, up to 5 hours, for participation as a speaker, moderator, or panel member in a conference, seminar or workshop.

Continuing Education Information

Beyond the Local Public Contracts Law expand

The Local Public Contracts Law (LPCL) and corresponding Rules are not the only Law and Rules that impact how your specifications and requests for proposals are developed.  This 6 hour course will examine when and how other laws and rules "Beyond the LPCL" influence the outcome of your final specifications and requests.

Competitive Contracting expand

This course explains the process of competitive contracting, a hybrid of bidding and RFP processes for consultants, professionals, and other services. It emphasizes the constraints associated with the process, and details the planning needed prior to issuing the RFP.

Cooperative Purchasing Including Bid State Contracts  expand

This course presents a review of cooperative purchasing. It includes the law, rules, and information on State Contracts.

Introduction to Public Purchasing expand

This half-day seminar is designed for purchasing assistants, support staff, newcomers to purchasing office duties, and using agencies affected by the purchasing function. The program introduces the basic legal requirements of purchasing; explains forms, processes, and purchasing vocabulary; and recommends effective strategies. Participants gain a clear understanding of the total purchasing process and learn how to improve office efficiency.

Local Public Contracts Law expand

T​his 2-day seminar provides local contracting units governed by the LPCL with an understanding of, and appreciation for, the basic principles of the law.  It will review existing provisions of the law as well as provide statutory updates to the law while also highlighting other newly enacted laws which affect the LPCL.

Local Public Contracts Law Rules expand

This seminar is offered to municipal, county, and authority personnel to provide a foundation of understanding, while updating knowledge of, and application on, the intent and spirit of the Local Public Contract Law rules.

Public School Bidding Process  expand

This one-day course takes the student through the step-by-step process of public school bidding and quotations for goods and services, as well as public work construction bids in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq.

Public School Purchasing expand

This 2-day course addresses issues that school board purchasing personnel deal with regularly. It reviews the Public Schools Contracts Law to enhance the effective purchasing practices of supplies and equipment, cooperative purchasing procedures, change order regulations and certification of funds. The course emphasizes the importance of standardized procedures and effective communication between purchasing personnel and the administration.

Public Works Construction Bids for School Districts expand

This half-day session is designed for public school officials to familiarize themselves with the major aspects of a Public Works Construction project. The session will be led by a school architect familiar with educational specifications, project development, and preparation of technical construction specifications. Participants will also receive instruction from a public school purchasing agent on the proper public works bid documents and bid process. This session will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 in New Brunswick, Center for Government Services, 303 George Street, 6th Floor, Classroom A. Registration fee is $133.00.

Specification Writing expand

​Bid specifications are the heart of any resulting contract. Writer, researcher, and editor, are three words that describe what’s involved in the creating of good bid specifications. This program is designed to familiarize public entity management and purchasing personnel with the necessary tools and best practices for good specification writing, and also provide guidelines for separating needs from wants, in order to best describe the needed goods and/or services.

The Bidding Process expand

This course is designed to introduce local government purchasing personnel to the bidding process, as permitted by New Jersey State’s local government procurement laws and rules.  Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.) requires that an aggregated total of goods and services, within a same commodity, be subject to public bidding.  This course will define the parameters of commodity aggregation, and also identify the exceptions to public bidding as provided under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5 et seq., and additionally, the course outlines the necessary skills and resources to use the bidding process and to develop bid specifications.

Working With Vendors expand

This half-day course discusses how to develop an effective business relationship with vendors. It provides guidelines for interviewing sales representatives, explains the bid process, covers vendor compliance, and reviews the ethical expectations of vendors and procurement staff.

Course Manuals

Green Product Purchasing (2015) expand

This manual introduces the long-term benefits of Green Purchasing and addresses how it can reduce overall costs and improve the workplace environment; strengthen markets for recyclable materials; promote the use of less toxic products to protect the health and safety of workers while minimizing potentially harmful emissions to air and water; and minimize local unit energy costs by promoting the purchase of energy-conserving appliances, equipment, and fixtures.

Principles of Public Purchasing 1 (2015) expand

As an introduction to public purchasing, this manual introduces sound practices and principles. It covers the application of appropriate guidelines, techniques and requirements for establishing a purchasing agency, the operational procedure within the agency, and the basis for a purchase order-encumbrance procedure.  Other topics include the basic legal principles of the public purchasing function, a discussion of intergovernmental cooperative purchasing, centralized purchasing, and specification writing.

Principles of Public Purchasing 2 (2014) expand

This manual emphasizes advanced information, ideas, and techniques for experienced public purchasing personnel.  Some of the topics covered include the Uniform Commercial Code, the marketplace, transportation and distribution.  It also reviews the Local Public Contracts Law and Statutory applications in judicial decisions, the antitrust law, and ethical issues.

Principles of Public Purchasing 3 expand

This manual reviews the competitive contracting process in public purchasing, with emphasis on Bid specifications and Request for Proposals as well as instructions to bidders and statutory requirements.  It also discusses current procurement subjects in the purchasing field.

About CGS

The Center for Government Services (CGS) has been providing timely and relevant training for New Jersey state and local officials for over 70 years. The Center was established in 1991 from the consolidation of the Bureau of Government Research (created in 1950) and the Department of Government Services.

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