News/Resources

Written by Matt Walker

Investment in the NIGP Code provides for its advancement and lays a foundation for stronger public procurement processes overall. We at Periscope Holdings are excited about both the progress made over the past year and the potential expansion opportunities ahead. This article provides an overview of activities conducted in 2012, including ongoing efforts and successes associated with the NIGP Code.

The NIGP Code remains a widely adopted classification taxonomy for state and local government procurement, and serves as a mechanism for managing master data – the vendors, inventory, and catalogs that are core to our public entities. The Code’s growth and success are fully dependent on the community of public purchasing professionals who utilize it. As we move forward, our attention will increasingly turn to leveraging the Code to help subscribers execute on strategic sourcing initiatives and empower greater transparency and decision-making.

Key accomplishments for 2012

New Users (31): Boise State University; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Denver Public Schools; Olathe Unified School District, Kan.; St. Paul, Minn.; Omnitrans (Calif.); Santa Fe, N.M.; Dayton, Ohio; Baton Rouge, La.; Black Sheep Ventures; Miramar, Fla; Aiken County, S.C.; Seminole Tribe of Florida; Boulder Valley School District (Colo.); Washoe County School District (Nev.); State of Illinois; Ukiah, Calif.; Boise, Idaho; Placer County Water Agency (Calif.); Smyrna, Ga.; Lewiston, Idaho; NEON, Inc.; Multnomah County, Ore.; Frederick County Public Schools (Md.); Yonkers, N.Y.; Kennesaw State University (Ga.); Miami Lakes, Fla.; Muskegon County, Mich.; Jupiter, Fla.; Ontario County, N.Y.; and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District.

New Codes: We continue to work with the code users to add to the code base. The creation of new codes helps to ensure that the NIGP Code remains responsive to the demands of public procurement. In 2012, we added 16 five-digit items, 985 seven-digit groups, and 5,802 eleven-digit details to the overall code set.

Coding and Code-Related Services: The NIGP Code services team works with code users to convert from existing (legacy) code systems and inventory masters to the current NIGP Code, or to establish a standardized spend classification system for the first time. In some cases, the code users require ongoing assistance to establish codes for new goods and services. This coding work has resulted in enhanced visibility for inventory, improved classification and identification of vendors, and transparency in reporting for code users.

In 2012, we worked with the following entities to help manage their master data:

• Baltimore County Public Schools – inventory management
• City of Austin, Department of Public Works – construction project standardization and development of a “crosswalk” to CSI codes
• Harford County Public Schools – inventory
• City of Houston, inventory and spend management – QA of SAP master file
• State of North Dakota, State Hospital – inventory conversion
• State of Tennessee – punch-out interface from e-procurement system to the NIGP Code
• State of Texas, Comptroller of Public Accounts – contracts management and inventory
• State of Texas, Department of Transportation - inventory
• State of Washington, Department of Corrections – inventory
• State of Washington, Department of Transportation – inventory
• State of Washington, Department of Social and Health Services – inventory

Periscope Holdings will continue to be represented at key conferences, deliver conference seminars and training webinars for users of the NIGP Code to educate agencies on best practices related to the Code and master file management. We also conduct NIGP Code Boot Camps to develop implementation approaches and train endusers regarding the NIGP Code.

We look forward to continued success in 2013, and have plans for significant expansion of our NIGP Code-related activities. For more information on the NIGP Code, please visit www.nigp.com or contact us at any time.

Matt Walker is president of the NIGP Code Services at Periscope Holdings, the custodian of the NIGP Code on behalf of the NIGP. He welcomes feedback and ideas related to the Code. Contact him at mwalker@nigp.com.

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Periscope would like to congratulate Governor Rick Snyder and CIO David Behen of the State of Michigan for their recent honors received by Government Technology magazine and the Center for Digital Government. Snyder and Behen were acclaimed among the Top 25 Doers, Dreamers, & Drivers of 2013. These awards given by Government Technology emphasize outstanding efforts made by governmental leaders in the movement toward the utilization of technology to automate processes. Recipients of the awards were concentrated in four different categories: tech experts, innovators, streamliners, and collaborators. Snyder was dubbed an innovator, and Behen, a tech expert. Periscope is currently under contract with the State of Michigan to implement BuySpeed eProcurement and sourcing, which is expected to significantly improve the way the state does business. Michigan entered the project with Periscope to reduce operating costs, diminish off-contract spend, and increase transparency in the state’s spending. The magazine lauded Snyder for his ongoing success in boosting customer satisfaction and for his use of effective budgeting techniques that allow for these investments in modern technology, and Behen was commended for taking the crucial steps toward implementing this system revitalization. Click here to view the full story.

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Austin, TX, February 25, 2013 — The State of Michigan awarded Austin-based Periscope Holdings, Inc. a contract to implement BuySpeed eProcurement and sourcing as Michigan’s single electronic procurement solution. The solution is expected to reduce operating costs, diminish “maverick” or off-contract spend and increase transparency in Michigan’s state spending.

“The State of Michigan views the revitalization of procurement technology as a crucial step to improving the way the state does business,” said Phil Jeffery, Chief Deputy Director for the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. “The new eProcurement solution will improve state purchasing and allow for better data tracking, giving the state a competitive advantage when it comes to obtaining the most for the taxpayer dollar.”

Local governments, with deep economic wounds, are also expected to benefit from Periscope’s eProcurement solution. Through BuySpeed, counties, cities, school districts, universities and special districts will have access to the State’s negotiated contracts. Additionally, Michigan developed a unique cooperative approach in which other public procurement entities across the country can purchase off of the Michigan contract. Furthermore, local entities can use the State’s eProcurement system to manage their local procurement processes. Michigan is offering its eProcurement software investment to local governments and political subdivisions in an effort to help alleviate budget shortfalls and reduce costs across the state.

“In these economic times, state and local governments are under increased scrutiny as they spend taxpayer dollars,” says Periscope’s President and CEO, Brian Utley. “BuySpeed offers a solution that increases transparency, improves the procurement process and saves money. I want to thank Michigan for taking on this endeavor. We need more governments to step up and implement solutions that will save money and make doing business with government easier.”

Jeff Brownlee, Michigan’s Chief Procurement Officer summed up the reasoning behind the award. “Michigan must be able to capture procurement data, translate data into actionable strategy, identify contract gaps and discover opportunities for savings through strategic sourcing,” he explained. “The BuySpeed solution proposed by Periscope in response to our RFP offered the most comprehensive, intuitive, and proven tool for the job! We’re excited to move forward on the project with them.”

As the prime vendor, Periscope chose to partner with Compuware, Inc. (NYSE: CPWR; www.compuware.com) on the implementation of the BuySpeed product. Compuware brings a wealth of knowledge as one of the premier providers of procurement solutions to state and local governments with an extensive Michigan resumé.

ABOUT PERISCOPE HOLDINGS, INC.

Periscope Holdings, Inc. (www.periscopeholdings.com) is a privately held technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Periscope works with public entities to achieve best practices in procurement through its comprehensive software solution BuySpeed and consulting services.  

Periscope eradicates waste in procurement, delivering time and money-saving results for more than 100,000 users in the United States and Canada. BuySpeed customers include the states of Arizona, Maryland and New Jersey; the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, New Orleans and Tucson; the counties of Harris and Knox as well as Virginia Beach Public Schools, Alaska Department of Transportation and the Chicago Housing Authority.

Periscope also holds the exclusive license to maintain, enhance and market the NIGP Commodity/Services Code on behalf of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (www.nigp.org).

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Supporting Quotes

• “We at Periscope are always looking for ways to strengthen our solution’s functionality and increase the value of investment for our customers. Periscope is pleased to be recognized by Gartner with respect to our capabilities,” says Brian Utley, President and CEO of Periscope Holdings, Inc.  “We strive for continuous improvement and innovation by working closely with our current BuySpeed customers as well as meeting the challenges outlined in the Gartner reports.“

Supporting Resources

Analyst Report
Gartner reports are available to Gartner clients at www.gartner.com.  Procurement Technology Guide for U.S. State and Local Government Agencies, 2013 is the latest report (ID Number: G00246710).

Of the analysis, Gartner says, “Procurement technology is rapidly evolving, driven by advances in mobile device support, ease of use, data model flexibility, multienterprise process enablement and analytics. Modern procurement platforms allow organizations to do things they could not otherwise do in a practical way, such as run a reverse auction, systematically analyze spending and post online contracts that multiple agencies can use. The result is clear — agencies that use a modern procurement platform are far more effective in achieving spend-related goals than those relying on manual processes or basic purchase order systems

Challenged to cut spending, improve efficiency and create new jobs, U.S. states, cities, counties, school districts, utilities and commissions are embracing modern procurement technology as a key enabler. Evidence of this surge in interest is the numerous state platform deals that have closed in the past 12 months. Moreover, Gartner’s volume of inquiries from U.S. state and local government agencies on this subject more than doubled from 2011 to 2012.

This guide covers what Gartner has learned that states and agencies need to know to successfully invest in procurement technology: How to build a business case, how to make program architectural decisions on issues such as delivery mode and funding model, how to select a vendor, how measure program performance.”

ABOUT PERISCOPE HOLDINGS, INC.

Periscope Holdings, Inc. (www.periscopeholdings.com) is a privately held technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas.  Periscope focuses on working with public entities and private companies to achieve best practices in procurement through comprehensive software solutions and consulting services.  Every day Periscope delivers time- and money-saving results for more than 100,000 users throughout the United States.

BuySpeed (www.buyspeed.com) customers include the states of Arizona, Michigan and New Jersey, the counties of Kern and San Bernardino, the cities of Baltimore and New Orleans, Virginia Beach Public Schools, Alaska Department of Transportation and Chicago Housing Authority. Periscope also holds the exclusive license to maintain, enhance and market the NIGP Commodity/Services Code on behalf of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (www.nigp.org).

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