Sound Transit receives distinguished award for outstanding procurement practices

Regional transit agency recognized for best-in-class contracting policies

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing has awarded Sound Transit its Pareto Award of Excellence in Public Procurement for outstanding achievements in procurement.

The award recognizes the agency's Procurements and Contracts Division for distinguished best practices in six areas of procurement: leadership, strategic planning, customer service, process management, technology, and performance improvement.

"This award reflects the importance Sound Transit places on managing the public's dollars effectively. By awarding our contracts through fair and competitive procurements, we make sure taxpayer funding stretches as far as possible," said Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl. "I am proud of our Procurements and Contracts Division and the many staff throughout the agency whose hard work earned this honor. They are critical to Sound Transit's success in delivering projects and services that provide thousands of local jobs and serve the more than 82,000 riders and counting who take advantage of our trains and buses each day."

In granting its top distinction to the agency, the NIGP commended Sound Transit for instituting policies and procedures that ensure fairness and transparency in its procurement process. Sound Transit is the eighth public agency in the nation to receive the honor.

"Your operation stands tall in serving as a prime example of professionalism and proficiency in public procurement - and your organization's effectiveness not only serves your taxpayers well but advances the procurement profession as a whole," said Rick Grimm, Chief Executive Officer of NIGP.

The NIGP introduced its distinguished Pareto Award of Excellence in Public Procurement in 2003. As the premier public procurement association in North America, the NIGP established this Award to recognize those agencies that epitomize efficiency and resourcefulness through streamlined procurement operations. The internationally recognized Pareto award represents the highest form of peer recognition that can be bestowed on an agency for outstanding achievements in public procurement. Only those agencies holding a current certification as an Outstanding Agency Achievement Accreditation Award (OA4) are eligible to undertake this rigorous set of standards and measures that truly define the term "Best-in-Class" within the public procurement and supply profession.

Sound Transit officially received the award yesterday during the 67th Annual NIGP Forum and Products Exposition on Monday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.