8.4. Training and Professional Development

Training in procurement is vital for all procurement personnel. Current purchasing staff must become certified within designated time-frames. To obtain certification, SPDState Purchasing Division will provide procurement training to APOAgency Procurement Officers/CUPOCollege/University Procurement Officers and other procurement staff throughout the state. The initial certification is valid for five (5) years, and purchasing staff must complete the re-certification process to maintain State of Georgia purchasing credentials.

SPDState Purchasing Division's training includes an overview of the procurement process for state entities and includes topics such as the fundamentals of public purchasing, role and responsibilities of the APOAgency Procurement Officers/CUPOCollege/University Procurement Officer, delegated purchasing authority, specifications, procurement types, bid procedures, evaluation and award, Team Georgia Marketplace™, eSource, the GPR, and the use of these systems. Information about training can be obtained from SPD's state entity training web page. It is imperative that all new employees promptly complete training and limit their work to those areas where they have received training and are certified.

Training for suppliers is also available from the SPD’s supplier’s training web page. This web page contains information to aid you with your training needs. Table 8.2 outlines the training available for suppliers.

 

Table 8.2 Supplier Training Resources Available
Georgia Procurement Manual (GPM) for Suppliers	The purpose of this online training session is to learn how to navigate the DOASDepartment of Administrative Services State Purchasing web site to find supplier information.
Register as a Sourcing Bidder	The purpose of this online training session is to review the process of registering as a sourcing bidder through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
Maintain Bidder Information	The purpose of this online training session is to guide you as a sourcing bidder through the steps to maintain your company profile through Team Georgia Marketplace™.
Register as a Supplier	The purpose of this online training session is to help you understand the process of registering as a supplier through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
Maintain Supplier Information	The purpose of this online training session is to guide you as a supplier through steps to maintain your company profile through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
Manage Purchase Orders	The purpose of this online training session is to help you understand the process of reviewing account information through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
Manage Payment Information	The purpose of this online training session is to help you understand the process of reviewing account information through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
Respond to Bids in eSource	The purpose of this online training session is to familiarize you with the eSource procurement application and explain how to respond to bids in eSource.
Respond to Events and Place Bids in Team Georgia Marketplace™	The purpose of this online training session is to help you understand the process of responding to bid opportunities/events through Team Georgia Marketplace™, the supplier registration system in the state of Georgia.
eSource Supplier Guide	This is a Supplier manual on how to access eSource and how to respond to solicitations posted in eSource.