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Province of British Columbia

The B.C. government uses contracted resources extensively, spending some $3 billion each year on procurement and contract management. The government estimates that more than 12,000 staff across the province have some level of procurement and/or contract management responsibility. With the implementation of a major procurement reform initiative, coupled with a significant number of impending retirements, the government recognized that it needed to build capacity in this critical area.

 

Turning Challenge into Opportunity

When the government moved to increase the training, it also decided to standardize it. In January 2004, in response to a B.C. government Request for Proposals, the NECI team was selected to design, develop, and deliver the first integrated, competency-based procurement certification program for public-sector employees in Canada   - the Procurement and Contract Management Program (PCMP).

 

New Standards, New Certification

The PCMP has four proficiency levels. Within the B.C. government, learners who successfully complete the first three levels are PCMP certified  -  a recognized qualification for career advancement in the B.C. Public Service. More than 3,400 B.C. learners are presently involved in PCMP training and certification, and there are now 107 graduates from the program.

 

Results

The B.C. government has expressed its satisfaction with the PCMP in a number of ways:

The average assessment of all instructor-led courses delivered between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 was 4.6 out of 5.0.

The average increase in learning across all instructor-led courses between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009 was 24%.

Each year has seen an increase in demand from B.C. government staff for delivery of PCMP courses, as well as a corresponding increase in funding to support this demand.

The B.C. government has extended the term of the initial delivery contract.

The PCMP was mentioned favourably in a report from the B.C. government's Internal Audit and Advisory Services, including:

 

"We understand that PCMP is already having a significant positive impact on government procurement, and should continue to do so in the longer term."

 

"We endorse PGO's [Procurement Governance Office's] encouragement of ministry management and staff to engage in PCMP course completion and certification as appropriate, and to consider including PCMP courses/certification as requirements for positions with significant procurement responsibilities."