Lucky Number Seven

For the seventh year in a row, Sourcewell has earned the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award by the National Procurement Institute, Inc.

Sourcewell was the only organization in the state of Minnesota to achieve this honor in 2019, 2020, 2021, and again in 2022.

Public and nonprofit agencies earn the AEP Award by demonstrating a commitment to procurement excellence. This annual program recognizes procurement organizations that embrace innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership, and e-procurement.

Sourcewell Director of Operations and Procurement Jeremy Schwartz explained that the AEP Award validates organizations that have held themselves to the highest standards in public procurement. The overall criteria throughout the application process measures qualities important to a successful procurement department.

To earn the award each year, the AEP program encourages not only the development of excellence, but also the push for continued improvement.

“It's a humbling experience to submit our processes and results to the AEP evaluators for critique and appraisal, but the results are worth it in both affirming where we have made progress and also where we have opportunities for improvement,” Schwartz says. “We have a collaborative and cross-functional team that comes together each year to compile the supporting data and craft the narrative responses to the AEP questions. It is very rewarding to see the culmination of these efforts result in achieving this award.”

This year, 171 organizations were recognized for excellence in procurement, including:

• 36 counties
• 73 cities
• 14 higher education agencies
• 17 school districts
• 15 special districts
• 5 state or provincial agencies
• 11 additional organizations

This is the 27^th year the NPI has recognized organizations with the annual AEP Award. Click here for a complete list of awardees.