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Navigating IT Procurement: Tips, Trends, and Best Practices for the Public Sector on Wednesday, October 15th from 12:00-1:00PM EST with Kim Cullen Prather

Presentation Summary: 

Public sector procurement professionals face unique challenges when it comes to IT. From rapidly changing specifications and compliance requirements to navigating cooperative contracts and tariff impacts, IT procurement looks very different from other categories. This session is designed to help procurement leaders understand the nuances of IT purchasing, strengthen alignment with IT departments, and recognize key red flags in quotes and contracts. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to make IT procurement more efficient, transparent, and resilient in today’s changing landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• Strengthening IT–procurement alignment — how to collaborate with IT on specifications, lifecycle costs, and vendor history to ensure the right solutions are purchased.
• From quotes to cooperative contracts — best practices for evaluating IT quotes, leveraging program pricing, and using cooperative contracts to maximize efficiency and compliance.
• Managing trends and external factors — how to anticipate issues like tariff-driven price shifts, supply chain delays, and vendor red flags before they disrupt your project.

Bio: 

Kim Cullen Prather is the Director of Government Relations at Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW). Bringing over 25 years of marketing and customer relations experience within the public sector to the team, her areas of focus include industry insight, customer engagement and education, specifically surrounding IT hardware and software. Kim an active member of the NIGP Business Council, NBC Marketing Taskforce Leader, and has her Supplier Mastery Designation from NIGP. In addition, she organizes and conducts educational seminars and webinars for NIGP regional chapters, procurement partners and customers, buying organizations and the vendor community throughout the country.