Updates to the Division of Procurement Services' training program

The Division of Procurement Services has made significant changes to its training program since 2023, with many more to come. Here are highlights of what is new with the program.

The Division has a new Learning Management System (LMS) named SCOPES

South Carolina's Online Procurement Education System (SCOPES) is changing the way learners register for courses and keep track of their learning history. SCOPES will go live on January 2, 2025 and become the primary way for procurement officials to register for classes and receive training materials in SC. Any procurement official who has registered for a training since 2023 has already been added to the system. Welcome emails will be sent from scopes.noverant.com on January 2 for those who have active accounts. New users will be able to register for accounts on that day with a link posted on this website.    

The Division now offers eight instructor-led courses

Introduction to the SC Procurement Code
This course focuses on demystifying the Code and identifying the requirements most procurement officers need to know. This class will benefit procurement officers and other agency officials who authorize, process, or review procurements. While this course is designed for State agencies, any public procurement official will benefit from hearing information necessary to properly document procurement files.

This full-day course is offered face-to-face at the Division of Procurement Services 1201 Main St. Ste. 600, Columbia, SC 29201.

Course cost: $100


Procurement Ethics
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of how ethics apply to the procurement function. It will review the following topics:

• Define ethics and ethical behavior

• Identify the value of transparency

• Identify ethics laws, codes, and best practices associated with the role of public procurement

• Recognize the different types of illegal and unethical practices in the public procurement profession 

This course is now offered in two different formats: 

• Online Via Zoom for two consecutive half-days (participants must attend both sessions to receive credit)
• Face-to-face for one full day at the Division of Procurement Services, 1201 Main St. Ste. 600, Columbia SC 29201

The information contained in each of these courses is the same. Please check the individual session for details.

Course cost: $100


Acquisition Planning and Market Research
Acquisition Planning & Market Research are vital steps in the procurement process that are all too often overlooked. These steps in the acquisition cycle help agencies ensure they adopt strategies appropriate to the market for the specific supplies or services they are purchasing. This course is designed to give a comprehensive overview of the acquisition planning and market research process as required by the SC Procurement Code and Regulations. 

This course is offered online via Zoom for a half day

Course cost : $75

Specifications and Scopes of Work
This course is designed to give participants a working knowledge of designing and writing specifications and scopes of work. It will focus on the following:

• Understanding the difference between specifications and scopes of work

• Understanding the pitfalls of poorly written specifications and scopes of work

• Developing basic specifications and scopes of work

This course will be offered in two different formats: 

• Online Via Zoom for two consecutive half days. (participants must attend both sessions to receive credit)
• Face-to-face for one full day at the Division of Procurement Services, 1201 Main St. Ste. 600, Columbia SC 29201

The information contained in each of these courses is the same. Please check the individual session for details.

Course cost: $100

Invitation for Bids (IFB)
Competitive sealed bidding, also known as invitation for bids, is the preferred acquisition method per the South Carolina Procurement Code. This course is designed to help participants gain a better understanding of the IFB process from development through award.This full-day course is offered face-to-face at the Division of Procurement Services 1201 Main St. Ste. 600 Columbia, SC 29201.

Course Cost: $100

Requests for Proposal (RFP)

This two-day course provides participants with a time-tested methodology to complete RFPs in compliance with the SC Consolidated Procurement Code. A guideline document, which fully describes the above stated methodology, is reviewed. Procurement officers or field personnel, who participate in all or part of the RFP process, will benefit from attendance. This course will benefit all public procurement personnel, not just state agencies, who are involved in the RFP process.

This course is offered face-to-face for two consecutive full days at the Division of Procurement Services 1201 Main St. Ste. 600 Columbia, SC 29201. Participants must attend both days to receive credit.

Course cost: $200


Contract Administration

This two-day course provides guidelines for a South Carolina State Government standardized approach to Contract Administration. The guidelines can be used by Procurement Officers to set-up and administer contracts. While this course was developed for state agency procurement officers, the course materials can be applied by anyone in governmental procurement. It serves as an excellent guide for establishing a contract administration program for any governmental entity.

This course is offered face-to-face for two consecutive full days at the Division of Procurement Services 1201 Main St. Ste. 600 Columbia, SC 29201. Participants must attend both days to receive credit.

Course cost: $200


Legal Aspects and Compendium Series

This course involves a one-day overview of the fundamental legal framework applicable to government contracting, followed by a multi-day, clause-by-clause review of the State’s general bidding instructions, standard contract clauses, and all the associated forms and guidance appearing in the Procurement Compendium. The remainder of the course will be a walk-through of the Compendium.

This class will be held over four full days at The Division of Procurement Services, 1201 Main St. Ste. 600 Columbia, SC 29201. Participants must attend all 4 sessions to receive credit for the course.

Course cost: $400

Courses have been designed to build on one another.

The program has been redesigned to progress with the learner as they gain knowledge in procurement. As such, courses should be taken in the following order:

1. .Acquisition Planning and Market Research

2. Specifications and Scopes of Work

3. Invitation for Bids (IFB)

4. Request for Purchase (RFP)

5. Contract Administration

6. Legal Aspects and Compendium Series

Note: While not specifically required, the Division highly recommends taking the Introduction to the SC Procurement Code and Procurement Ethics courses before beginning this path

There will be knowledge checks before and after classes.

To ensure that every participant has the baseline knowledge necessary to fully participate in the course they're attending, the Division has instituted prerequisite knowledge checks. Registrants will need to pass a short knowledge check which covers basic information taught in previous classes before registering for a higher-level class. Prerequisite knowledge checks will not be required for the Acquisition Planning and Market Research, Introduction to the SC Procurement Code, or Procurement Ethics courses.  

Participants will also be required to pass a knowledge check with a score of 80% or higher to receive credit for completing each of the courses.

Registrants can withdraw themselves from classes without penalty up to 72 hours in advance.

Registrants will have the option to unenroll from a session up to 72 hours before it is set to occur. After that, a Division of Procurement Training Team member will need to be contacted to assist with the process.

A $50 fee will be assessed for any registrant who misses a class without unenrolling or notifying Division staff of their absence in advance.

 

Notifications will be automatic.

Course reminders and materials will now come directly from the SCOPES learning management system. Please have your IT personnel whitelist scopes.noverant.com to ensure that they are received.

Please feel free to reach out to training@mmo.sc.gov with any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you in future trainings!

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Resources are available for procurement officers at a national level. While these are not necessarily state-specific, they reflect overall procurement best practices and are great places to start, especially if new to the career.

The National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP) offers an extensive list of procurement trainings for procurement officials with a wide variety of experience through their Pathways program. Please log into the LMS for pricing and availability. NIGP has also developed a list of Global Best Practices for a wide variety of procurement topics, which are available for free on its website.

The National Association of State Procurement Officials keeps a repository of job aids for fundamental procurement-related topics in its Procurement Toolbox. It also offers courses through its Procurement U system. NASPO is currently offering multiple introductory classes for free. Learn more here.

Many of the Division of Procurement Services courses require the use of the South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code book. To purchase a 2020 copy of the book, please click here, complete the form, and return it to scbrown@mmo.sc.gov.