9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST
Location: Virtual - course materials will be distributed prior to event, ON
Registration ends on 5/20/2026
There are currently 22 spots remaining out of 24
Mastering sourcing and contracting skills is crucial for successful procurement professionals aiming to meet stakeholder demands and acquire commodities efficiently. NIGP’s Core Certificate: Foundations of Sourcing and Contracting is a comprehensive learning experience encompassing sourcing methods, specification development, evaluation techniques, and negotiation strategies. This course equips learners with actionable solutions to procurement challenges, enabling them to excel in their roles and enhance their career growth in the competitive procurement industry. By gaining expertise in these foundational procurement principles, professionals can effectively navigate sourcing and contracting complexities, ensuring optimal procurement outcomes and organizational success.
Course Date + Time
Wednesday, May 27, Thursday, May 28 + Friday, May 29, 2026 at 9:00am - 6:00pm ET - learners must participate in all three days in full to earn their course certificate
Instructor
Lynda Allair, NIGP-CPP, CPPO
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the certificate, the certificate holder will be able to:
- Identify the appropriate source selection method and describe the components required to successfully meet the needs of the end user.
- Identify advantages and disadvantages of contracting for commodities.
- Assist the end user in developing and preparing effective and open specifications, pricing strategies, and terms and conditions to promote maximum competition in the marketplace.
- Evaluate offers, make awards and/or negotiate an optimal contract solution.
- Identify and describe the different types of evaluation methodologies and their associated application.
- Explain the process of receiving, opening and analyzing offers, methods for award, and award strategies.
- Identify and select the most responsive offer(s) and responsible supplier(s).
- Prepare to conduct a negotiation by engaging in market research, determining negotiating strategy and goals, and selecting the negotiating team.
- Conduct and document negotiations with each selected offeror to determine the proposal that best meets entity needs.
- Establish a performance assessment plan to ensure that all stakeholders are complying with the procurement as established in the contract.
This offering is targeted to individuals who meet or exceed the following professional demographics:
- Entry-level public procurement and central warehouse professionals who serve as assistants, coordinators, buyers, or equivalent functions within their respective entities.
- Non-procurement managers and supervisors who are responsible for either the procurement function or staff who provide procurement functions under delegated authority.
- Professionals who are employed by governing entities and special authorities (such as K-12 and higher education, publicly-owned utilities, transportation providers, and other publicly-funded or created organizations) that either serve within or manage the procurement function.
- Suppliers or representatives of suppliers seeking to understand the public procurement function from a holistic level, including the policies, standards, and procedures by which public entities must function.
Completion Requirements
In order to successfully complete the NIGP Foundations of Sourcing & Contracting Core Certificate, learners must:
- Complete any pre-work materials provided prior to the course start date.
- Attend and participate in the entirety of the instructional event.
- Complete the post-course evaluation survey.
Competency Alignment
This certificate is designed as an exercise-based learning experience and is tied to NIGP’s Public Procurement Competency Framework. Upon completion of the certificate requirements, learners will have demonstrated the successful knowledge, skills, and abilities in alignment with the following competencies:
- Sourcing & Contracting Methods
- Specification Development
- Evaluation Methods
- Negotiations Strategies
OPBA Member Early Bird Rate [Mar 17 - Apr 17]: $718.68
OPBA Member Regular Rate [Apr 18 - May 20]: $870.10
OPBA Non-Member Rate [Mar 17 - May 20]: $983.10
*please note, course registration fees are set at a special rate for this pilot
Registration
This course requires a minimum of 8, maximum of 24, learners to move ahead. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration.
Cancellation Policy: important note, this pilot course has a different refund policy than Principles/PPS courses.
Registration and payment must be received 24 hours prior to the course start date. After this time, registrations will be based on space availability. A full refund, less a $75 administrative fee will be given for cancellations made in writing 31+ days prior to the seminar date by emailing members@opba.ca. No refunds are given for cancellations received within 24 hours of the course start date. There are no refunds for no-shows. If the course is cancelled for any reason, OPBA's liability is limited to the registration fee only. Attendee substitutions within the same agency may be completed with email notification to OPBA sent more than 24 hours prior to the course start time.
Last day to register: May 20, 2026