Public Procurement & Bidding Essentials for Municipal Officials

Participants must attend both 3-hour sessions to earn a course certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: This course is interactive to give you the best learning experience possible.  It will be conducted via Zoom.  You will need to be able to: Raise your hand, mute/unmute, and use chat.

Course Description

This course provides a practical and comprehensive introduction to public procurement and bidding processes within local government operations. Designed for municipal staff and procurement professionals, it covers the principles, procedures, and legal foundations essential to conducting fair, efficient, and compliant procurement activities.

Participants will explore key topics such as drafting bid specifications, conducting competitive solicitations, evaluating bids, and awarding contracts. Emphasis is placed on transparency, ethics, and regulatory compliance, with insights into navigating common challenges and applying best practices in public purchasing.

Case studies and real-world examples will be used to illustrate common challenges and strategies for ensuring compliance and transparency.

Audience:

• Municipal Secretaries
• Treasurers
• Clerks
• Administrators
• Auditors
• Elected officials

Topics:

• Key Statutes and Regulations
• Procurement Cycle
• Competitive bidding requirements
• Bid specifications
• Bid evaluation and contract awards
• Ethical considerations in municipal purchasing

At the end of the course, you can expect to be able to:

• List the key statues and regulations for municipal bidding and purchasing
• Describe the steps in the procurement cycle
• Draft clear and effective bid specifications
• Evaluate vendor submissions using objective criteria
• Execute contract awards in accordance with local laws and guidelines
• Promote integrity and transparency throughout the procurement process

By registering for this course, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. Please review when received. If you do not receive an email, it may be in your spam folder.

CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY:
Cancellation must be received in writing to lla@pml.org within 72 hours prior to a class to be considered for a full refund.

If cancellation is received after the 72-hour window, a processing fee will be applied for a portion of the refund.

Those who do not cancel or attend forfeit the full registration fee.