When the public sector procures  goods and services, it is different than if we were in the private sector.  Like private sector ,we want best value AND we have additional obligations because we are using taxpayer funds.

• We must be open and transparent.

Everyone has a right to know and have easy access.
Our shareholders are everyone: taxpayers, legislators, advocates, vendors and other interested parties.

• We must be fair.

Everyone has the right to compete.
There should be a level playing field.

• We ARE accountable.

Established rules must be followed consistently.
– Statutes, rules, procurement circulars, establish procedures and guidelines.
– Our procurement statute is modeled after the American Bar Association Model Procurement Code
We must have an audit paperwork (or electronic…) trail!

HePS helps us do all of those more efficiently.  Solicitations are now available to whoever registers in HePS for that category of goods/services/construction, not just three vendors selected by the buyer.  This makes it more open and more fair-giving more access. Everyone sees the same speciifications.  HePS tracks everything that happens with regard to the solicitation and who did it.