Office of State Procurement Training

The Office of State Procurement offers training programs during the year to educate purchasing staff. These classes are for State of Minnesota employees only and registration is required.

Registration for this training will be completed in the Learning area (ELM) of Self Service. Please refer to the instructions and course codes linked here.

Acquisitions Training Opportunities from Office of State Procurement

Registration for this training will be completed in the Learning area (ELM) of Self Service. Please refer to the instructions and course codes linked here.

If you have difficulty enrolling in the above classes through Self Service, contact the OSP Training Coordinator.

1. Authority for Local Purchase (ALP) Certification Program

Training Opportunities

The Office of State Procurement (OSP) has developed a number of training programs for state agency personnel seeking local purchasing certification. Purchasing certification at any level is valid for three years. Renewal requirements must be fulfilled to receive recertification.

The ALP training classes will include:

• Review of your ALP Manual
• Your Delegation of Authority
• Environmental Purchasing
• Specifications
• Solicitation Preparation
• Vendor Selection
• Bid Tabulations & Applying Preferences
• Award of Bids
• Vendor Relations
• Ethics
• Office of State Procurement (OSP) Website
• Review of Purchasing Laws/Rules/Policies
• Overview of Surplus Property Management
• Insurance Requirements
• How to Keep Bid Files

The training classes are:

Purchasing Authority for $0 to $25,000: Attend a four-part entry-level training session to learn the basics of State purchasing. Upon completion of all four parts of a training session you will be given an open book written exam and a link to the on-line SWIFT Strategic Sourcing class. After passing the exam and completing the SWIFT class you will be certified to make purchases for the State of Minnesota up to $25,000.00 for three years.

Current class fee: $100.00

Purchasing Authority for $50,000: If a buyer is certified to $25,000 they may request certification for $50,000. The certified buyer must contact the OSP Training Coordinator, in writing, to request a purchasing review/audit. A minimum of five tier 3/informal solicitations and the Agency Head's approval is required prior to audit by OSP. At OSP's sole discretion, OSP may require a written exam to be completed with a passing score of 80 percent or higher.

2. ALP Training: Non-Certification Classes

Purchasing Authority Overview: The overview is specifically designed for managers, supervisors, or end users who do not actually perform the purchasing function, but desire to know the basics of state purchasing. The overview is also helpful as a review for ALP certified buyers.

The overview covers:

• Delegation of Authority
• Law Governing State Purchasing
• Manager/Buyer/End User's Roles
• Training levels
• Certification Levels Overview
• ALP Policy and Procedure Overview
• Purchasing Card Overview
• Purchasing Ethics

Currently no class fee.

Overview classes are scheduled several times a year. In addition, if an agency desires a class for its employees, the agency can request a class be conducted for its agency. If you are interested in a special session for your agency, please contact Luke Jannett at 651.201.2446 or Luke.Jannett@state.mn.us.

How to Procure a Conference, Meeting, or Event: This training is designed to guide you through the process for procuring a conference, meeting, or other similar event.

The training session will include:

• Review of the Conference Procurement Forms
• Overview of Policy 33 on Procuring Events
• Exploring the Challenges for Planners and Purchasers in Conference Soliciting
• Question and Answer Session

Currently no class fee.

Conference Panel This is an optional companion training to the How to Procure a Conference, Meeting, or Event training offered by OSP. It is an opportunity to meet the conference workgroup members, have a one-on-one discussion about needs specific to your event solicitation, and learn about what the standardized terms and conditions address. This panel convenes immediately after the scheduled end time of the How to Procure a Conference, Meeting, or Event training. No registration is required.

Currently no class fee.

Taking The Mystery Out Of Service Contracts: OSP offers a class to those buyers who are responsible for soliciting services such janitorial, rubbish removal, snow removal, lawn service, window washing, laundry, vehicle repair, and other non-Professional/Technical needs your agency may have.

The training session will include:

• Scope of Work Samples
• Insurance Requirements
• Samples
• Contract Language

Currently no class fee.

How To Solicit A Construction Project: You will learn, in detail, how to process a construction solicitation using Appendix Q in the Authority for Local Purchase manual.

The training session will include:

• Overview of Construction Statutes and Rules
• When to Get Real Estate and Construction Services Involved
• Advertising Requirements
• SWIFT and Fax Bids
• Construction Text References
• TG/ED/VO Contractors
• Construction Specifications
• Insurance Requirements
• Prevailing Wage Requirements
• Pre-bid Meetings
• Revenue's IC-134
• Question and Answer Time

Currently no class fee.