NJPA Earns Second-Consecutive AEP Award

Staples, Minn. ­– For the second-consecutive year, National Joint Powers Alliance® (NJPA) has been awarded the prestigious Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) from the National Procurement Institute, Inc. (NPI).

The annual AEP Award is earned by public and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate excellence by obtaining a high application score based on standardized criteria. The criteria are designed to measure innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes of the organization.

“NPI is one of the most respected organizations in our industry,” said Dr. Chad Coauette, NJPA Executive Director/CEO. “Its high standards for excellence and commitment to continuous improvement and professionalism push public procurement entities to be better. NJPA is humbled to be among the recipients for 2017, and is committed to surpassing the expectations of our over 30,000 member organizations looking to us for procurement solutions.”

“We are honored to be a repeat recipient,” said Jeremy Schwartz, NJPA Director of Procurement. “We have a great deal of respect for industry peers such as the City of Tucson, Mohave Educational Services Cooperative, and the State of New York’s Office of General Services. The City of Tucson and Mohave have been perennial award recipients for 22 and 14 years, respectively, utilizing the application process to hone in on opportunities for continuous improvement.  The State of New York is a first-time recipient, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing the quality and value provided by its procurement department, which serves thousands of government entities through the effective management of nearly 1,500 contracts.

“To be recognized by NPI along with such high-performing organizations affirms our commitment to going above and beyond industry standards and continuing to set and achieve organizational benchmarks as we serve government, education, and nonprofit entities.”

About NJPA

National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) is a government agency committed to providing cooperative solutions assisting governmental, educational, and nonprofit entities as they strive for efficient public service. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, NJPA offers a variety of cooperative programs and services for members on a local, regional, statewide, and national scale, including Canada. On behalf of its publicly elected Board of Directors, and public employee staff, NJPA is committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of its members.

Featured

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.

  • North Carolina District Completes New Elementary School

    The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in Holly Springs, N.C., recently announced that construction on a new elementary school has finished, according to a news release. Rex Road Elementary School measures in at 133,000 square feet and is the fifteenth school that general contractor Balfour Beatty has completed for the district.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.