- Operational Services Division
Video: Streamlining State Procurement: Process Innovation
Skip this video Streamlining State Procurement: Process Innovation.The Operational Services Division (OSD) is at the forefront of public procurement innovation, ensuring agency partners get what they need when they need it. OSD is implementing innovative technology and business practices into the procurement process in Massachusetts, and we're proud that these efforts are recognized outside of the state.
OSD recently earned the George Cronin Award for Procurement Excellence, presented by the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO). Among several other accolades, the Cronin Award recognizes outstanding state procurement initiatives developed by procurement professionals. The award-winning initiatives demonstrate innovation; are transferable to other procurement offices; provide service improvements, cost savings, and efficiencies; and create opportunities to improve the procurement profession nationwide. This year, the awards committee named two of the Operational Services Division's entries as the Gold and Silver Cronin Award recipients, solidifying the persistent innovation and creativity occurring at the agency to improve the procurement process.
Recently, OSD’s Cronin Award recipients were featured on the WOSD News: Procurement Insights podcast to discuss their projects and the journey of taking them from concept to delivery.
Deputy General Counsel Jennifer Lyons took home the Gold Award and presented Smarter Service, Safer Contracts: Transforming State Procurement with Dual AI Agents, which introduces two distinct AI-powered tools, OSD’s very own AI chatbot and a specialized contract review tool. Director of Category Management Ann-Maria Bennett won the Silver Award and presented Improving Supplier Relationship Management with Multi-Supplier Business Reviews to promote time efficiency and collaboration during the Statewide Contract Vendor business review process.
Both projects are designed to boost efficiencies and innovation throughout the procurement process, often working together to streamline tasks for both OSD staff and external partners.
In the podcast, Jennifer explains that “It's really a synergistic win-win for both these projects. Ann-Maria and I are very much working toward the same thing. She is making sure that all of our Vendors are up to speed, compliant, and doing the best they can. And the legal team is making sure that they are negotiating deals with those vendors that are legal and compliant. And having more qualified Vendors on contract means we have more services and products available for all of the agencies that we service.”
In addition to the Gold Award, Jennifer’s project was recognized with the Academic Collaboration Award alongside Northeastern University’s Burnes Center for Social Change.
Tune in to Streamlining State Procurement: Process Innovation, the latest episode of the WOSD News: Procurement Insights podcast for an in-depth discussion with Jennifer Lyons and Ann-Maria Bennett, and a behind-the-scenes look at how these projects were brought to life.
