Surviving Procurement Island

1. Best New Reality Show! Surviving Procurement Island

3. Do You Know Enough to Survive… Procurement Island? Your Secret Survival Guide In Case of Procurement, Open Box and Read Directions Department of Administration Division of Administrative Services

4. Topics we’ll cover today The rules of Procurement Island How to get your stuff How to request stuff you can’t get How to deal with bad stuff

5. Where Do the Rules Come From?

6. Statutes Regulations Administrative Manual Policy and Procedures Department employees who purchase services or goods on behalf of the department should be familiar with the Statutes, Regulations, Administrative Manual, and departmental Policies and Procedures procurement requirements. Lifeline! These documents can be found the Division of Administrative Services’ Procurement Unit website!

7. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Don’t get too excited…..before you build your raft to escape Procurement Island, there are still a few things your need take into consideration. These considerations are marked by sand dollars, be sure to pay attention to them!

8. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Employees who perform purchasing functions must have a written delegation of authority on file with Admin. Services. Must also be certified through the Division of General Services’ Procurement Officer Certification System at the appropriate level (one or two). Fragmenting a purchase to avoid the appropriate purchasing process is a violation of the rules. Divisions have been delegated procurement authority for commodities and non-professional services up to $50,000, depending on the highest certified person in your division. What is the estimated dollar amount? Admin. Manual requires us to consider our annual needs in determining the proper procurement level. You must consider all renewal options and phases.

9. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Example of Fragmentation 15 coconuts cost over $5,000 and we are required to obtain at least three quotes. Instead of obtaining three quotes, Castaway Carl buys five on three different occasions over a three week period.

10. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Castaway Carl has committed a procurement violation because he has purposely broken apart a larger procurement so that he could avoid the requirements of obtaining quotes. Depending on the severity of the violation and whether it represents a pattern of behavior, Castaway Carl’s procurement delegation may be revoked.

11. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Are there sufficient and appropriate funds available? Is the supply or service permitted under the delegation of authority? Restrictions include… Telephones, telecommunications equipment,construction, vehicles, and housing, leased office space or renovation involving leased or State owned space. For these types of purchases, send your requirements to Admin. Services on a PR.

12. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Is the proposed purchase considered an authorized expenditure? UNAUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES AAM 35.150 Printing of a personal nature Foodstuffs and utensils Dues for personal membership in associations Nonfunctional office fixtures These types of purchases must be approved, IN ADVANCE, in writing, by the Commissioner’s Office.

13. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Is the service or commodity an exemption or exception to the procurement rules? “What’s the difference between exemption and exception?”

14. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Examples of exemptions include purchases of these types: Governmental agencies Certified employment programs Youth Education programs Correctional Industries Book binding services Periodicals Advertising Audio-visual materials Medical doctors and dentists Newspapers Network information services access Books

15. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island An exception is a situation that prevents you from obtaining the desired service or commodity through normal procurement methods because: Only one source exists or is acceptable or suitable to meet your needs. The procurement process is impractical or contrary to the public interest and results in restricting the procurement to a group of potential contractors. An unanticipated amendment to a procurement exceeds the amendment limitation established in the Administrative Manual. An emergency situation exists in which a timely decision (generally less than 72 hours) must be made to prevent loss of life, damage to property or facilities, or to mitigate an imminent threat to public health.

16. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island What does the law require us to provide in order to obtain approval of a RAP? An explanation that thoroughly describes the situation. Findings of fact that summarizes all the pertinent details surrounding the procurement. And supporting evidence that verifies that the explanation given and the findings of fact listed are true and accurate. Lifeline! Even if we provide a good explanation of the situation, if we don't include evidence to support the claims, the RAP cannot be approved.

17. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island The law requires us to meet a two part test when requesting a Single Source RAP: It is not practical to award a contract through the normal competitive methods. Award of a single source contract is in the State's best interests. Best Advice? Call Procurement!

18. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Is the item available from an established contract? General Services establishes multi-agency use contract awards for common items, such as computers, office supplies, copiers, etc. Additionally, the department also establishes contracts specific to the Department of Administration. These include both commodity and service contracts.

19. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Administration has several IT procurement restrictions: All computers must be purchased through DAS! Printers/multifunction devices (standard-Hewlett Packard) Peripheral devices-divisions may purchase according to standards!

20. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Review of Considerations: Do you have a written delegation of authority? Within delegated authority? Are there sufficient funds? Is it allowed under the DOA delegation of authority? Is it an authorized expenditure? Is it on contract? Is it a professional service?

21. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island How does DAS come into the picture? Oversight of all procurement activities, including departmental procurement delegations. We assist the divisions in meeting their mission requirements while assuring that all purchases are made in accordance with the law. DAS makes purchases over $50,000 and establishes all professional services contracts regardless of cost.

22. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Competition Requirements Divisions One time Procurement Card Purchase, up to $2,500….1 quote Goods and Other Services under $5,000…………………..Reasonable/adequate Goods and Other Services $5K-$25,000……………………3 verbal or written Goods and Other Services $25K-$50,000………………….RFQ process (3) DAS Goods and Other Services over $50,000………………....ITB process (DAS/ETS) Professional Services under $5,000…………………………Reasonable/adequate Professional Services $5,000-$25,000……………………..3 verbal or written Professional Services $25,000-$50,000……………………3 written Professional Services over $50,000………………………....RFP process Obtain minimum # of quotes from Alaskan vendors!

23. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Alaskan Vendor Requirement The minimum number of quotations or informal proposals must be sought from Alaskan vendors prior to soliciting any non-Alaskan vendors, unless the procurement officer determines in writing that soliciting the minimum number of quotes or informal proposals from Alaskan vendors is not practical per 2 AAC12.400(f) and AAM 81.220. Lifeline! For your convenience, DAS has developed a template for this determination. You can find the template on the Procurement website!

24. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island What does Adequate and Reasonable mean? • Procedures that ensure: • fairness to potential bidders • competition commensurate with the circumstances of the procurement, considering price, mission requirements, and available competition Reasonable and adequate competition may include contacting one potential bidder in appropriate circumstances.

25. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Regardless of the dollar level and the related solicitation that must occur, we still need to develop specifications: Research what you want. State what you want, without making your specifications so unique that they exclude potential bidders or offerors. Emphasize functional or performance criteria. List essential characteristics.

26. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Include in the specifications: Delivery date Delivery location Duration of the resulting award Possible renewal options Description of the item or service Deadline for submitting quotes Important note: the bid price must include shipping charges.

27. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island For small procurements, there is not a set amount of time you are required to give a vendor to respond to a solicitation-you need to use your best judgment as to what is reasonable in the circumstances. IMPORTANT: Submitted bids must meet all of the minimum requirements established in your solicitation. If not, you must reject the bid as non-responsive. After you obtain the quote(s) and then evaluate the responses to determine the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, taking into consideration all applicable preferences.

28. Secret Survival Guide for Procurement Island Don’t forget about preferences……. Alaskan Bidder Preference-5% on quoted price Alaskan Product Preference Recycled Products Preference Alaskans with Disabilities Preference Employers of People with Disability Preference

29. Solicitation Tips Do: • Provide the same information to the bidders at the same time. • Consider questions or criticisms raised by potential bidders in response to your solicitation. • Be willing to modify your requirements if warranted. • Apply all bidder and product preferences. • Contact the procurement section if you have questions.

30. Don’t: • Give one or some offerors additional or advanced information. • Verbally state displeasure with a bidder or product. • Disclose the content of any bidder’s submission to other bidders until after award. • Let bidders change their submission after the deadline unless you amend the solicitation. • Remember, the process is a professional business relationship that is legally binding, it is not a friendly transaction.

31. Ethics Code The code equates public office to public trust. Any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust. Conduct procurements in a fair and impartial manner, notify your supervisor of potential conflicts, and avoid even the appearance of a conflict.

32. What can I do to make the processing of documents go faster? Have the documents properly initialed or signed by the appropriate people. Complete the forms entirely. Call or email warning of rush items.

33. Dealing With the Bad Stuff If you receive a protest, contact DAS ASAP! Attempt to resolve problems quickly-the longer they drag out, the bigger the problem becomes. If the problem involves a contract award, contact the contract administrator for their assistance. Cure letter-if necessary, DAS will write a cure letter to the Contractor.

34. Congratulations! You have survived Procurement Island!