The Office of State Procurement offers training programs during the year to educate purchasing staff. These classes are for State of Minnesota employees only. If you are a vendor, visit our Vendor Training page.
On-Demand Training
OSP offers a variety of on-demand classes (videos or slides) to supplement the scheduled courses below. The On-Demand Training page includes classes in General Procurement as well as classes oriented for P/T Procurement and for Acquisitions of Goods and Services and Construction.
Scheduled Trainings
Scheduled trainings are live presentations (virtual or in-person). Most of these require registration.
This class is intended for ALP buyers and P/T Contracts agency team members and coordinators. The goal of the Diversity and Inclusion training is to leave with specific tools and resources to begin implementing a new path toward greater diversity and inclusion. This course is a one time requirement for all ALP buyers. New ALP buyers must complete this course within 6 months of their first certification in order to maintain their delegated authority.
Location: Online, unless indicated in classroom
Date and Time:
Thursday, February 22, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Classroom-Admin Bldg 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, May 23, 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Classroom-Admin Bldg 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
This class is intended primarily for P/T Contracts agency team members and coordinators. The goal of the Diversity & Inclusion training is to leave with specific tools and resources to begin implementing a new path toward greater diversity and inclusion.
This course also satisfies the requirement for ALP buyers, which is that new ALP buyer must complete this course within 6 months of their first certification in order to maintain their delegated authority.
The Office of State Procurement (OSP) has developed a number of training programs for state agency personnel seeking local purchasing certification. Purchasing certification at any level is valid for three years. Renewal requirements must be fulfilled to receive recertification. ALP training classes will include:
Review of your ALP Manual
Your Delegation of Authority
Environmental Purchasing
Specifications
Solicitation Preparation
Vendor Selection
Bid Tabulations & Applying Preferences
Award of Bids
Vendor Relations
Ethics
Office of State Procurement (OSP) Website
Review of Purchasing Laws/Rules/Policies
Overview of Surplus Property Management
Insurance Requirements
How to Keep Bid Files
Purchasing Authority for $0 to $25,000: Attend a four-part entry-level training session to learn the basics of State purchasing. Upon completion of all four parts of a training session you will be given an open book written exam and a link to the on-line SWIFT Strategic Sourcing class. After passing the exam and completing the SWIFT class you will be certified to make purchases for the State of Minnesota up to $25,000.00 for three years.
Current class fee: $100.00
Location: Online, two-day course, unless held in classroom then one-day course.
Date and Time:
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, January 25, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, February 15, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, held in Classroom Admin Bldg 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, March 21, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, April 18, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, June 13, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, August 22, 2024
9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, held in Classroom Admin Bldg 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, October 17, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday, November 7, 2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Purchasing Authority for $50,000: If a buyer is certified to $25,000 they may request certification for $50,000. The certified buyer must contact the OSP Training Coordinator, in writing, to request a purchasing review/audit. A minimum of five tier 3/informal solicitations and the Agency Head's approval is required prior to audit by OSP. At OSP's sole discretion, OSP may require a written exam to be completed with a passing score of 80 percent or higher.
The overview is specifically designed for managers, supervisors, or end users who do not actually perform the purchasing function, but desire to know the basics of state purchasing. The overview is also helpful as a review for ALP certified buyers.
The overview covers:
Delegation of Authority
Law Governing State Purchasing
Manager/Buyer/End User's Roles
Training levels
Certification Levels Overview
ALP Policy and Procedure Overview
Purchasing Card Overview
Purchasing Ethics
Currently no class fee.
Location: Online, unless held in classroom
Thursday, February 15, 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, September 5, 2024, held in Classroom-Admin Bldg, 116B 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Overview classes are scheduled several times a year. In addition, if an agency desires a class for its employees, the agency can request a class be conducted for its agency. If you are interested in a special session for your agency, please contact Luke Jannett at 651.201.2446 or [email protected].
OSP offers a class to those buyers who are responsible for soliciting services such janitorial, rubbish removal, snow removal, lawn service, window washing, laundry, vehicle repair, and other non-Professional/Technical needs your agency may have.
The training session will include:
Scope of Work Samples
Insurance Requirements
Samples
Contract Language
Currently no class fee.
Location: Online, unless held in classroom
Date and Time:
Thursday, April, 25 2024 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday, October 10, 2024, held in Classroom-Admin Bldg 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Professional / Technical
P/T Foundations (formerly known as P/T 101)
P/T Foundations is a series of four courses designed for contracting professionals, program staff, or anyone that wants to learn the basics of P/T contracting. It is a high-level overview for anyone who is just starting to work with P/T contracts or a refresher for someone who wants to refine their skills. The four courses within this series are Professional/Technical Overview, Drafting & Facilitating Solicitations, Evaluation & Negotiation, and Contract Life Cycle. Ideally, they are taken in order and are offered consecutively over the course of two weeks. All four are required to get a wide-ranging understanding of P/T contracting, but they can be taken as single courses. They cover:
This course will cover procurement principles, P/T fundamentals, and will provide a broad overview of the kinds of documents encountered in P/T contracting. You will learn about the different kinds of contracts used in P/T contracting, the requirements associated with them, and important procurement statutes. Approximately 90-120 minutes. Course Code: G02OSPPTO
This course will cover drafting P/T solicitations. You will learn how to turn an agency need into a solicitation. You will learn about the critical things a solicitation must have, special considerations, and what the P/T contracting team looks for when reviewing a solicitation. This course will also touch on the OSP procurement policies. Approximately 90-120 minutes. Course Code: G02OSPDFS
This course will cover the evaluation process, including roles and responsibilities. You will understand the principles underlying the evaluation process. You will learn about common problems that come up during the evaluation process, and how to prevent them. Upon completion of the course you will understand how to run a fair and equitable evaluation process, and how a robust and well done evaluation feeds into negotiating a contract. This course replaced Evaluation 101. Approximately 90-120 minutes. Course Code: G02OSPEN
This course will cover the life-cycle of the contract from draft to close-out. You will learn basic drafting skills, and about the critical clauses required in a P/T contract. The course will also cover the signature process, how to handle extensions, and how to properly close-out a P/T contract. Approximately 90-120 minutes. Course Code: G02OSPCLC
In this two-hour course, you will learn the basics of drafting an amendment to a contract. The course will cover typical issues when drafting an amendment, statutory requirements and best practices. You will have the opportunity to participate in a group exercise to apply what you have learned. Approximately 60 minutes. Course code: G02OSPA101 Recommended prerequisite: P/T Foundations
This is a short class intended to help you through the annual plan process. There are basic guidelines on how to submit your annual plan to the P/T Contracting Team along with information to include (and not to include) in your annual plan. Link to Annual Plan Basics. Time: 10-15 minutes
This training covers the special requirements for using American Rescue Plan funds with contractors. Additionally, you will get an overview of procurement options available to you, and tips for managing your American Rescue Plan Contracts. Link to ARP Contracts, What You Need to Know & Do.
During this class you will learn about the importance of contract management. By the end of the training you will understand the contract and procurement life cycle, and how and where contract management fits in that cycle. You will learn how to use a contract management plan, along with other effective tools for contract management. Approximately 120 minutes. Course Code: G02CM101
This class provides guidance on drafting Requests for Proposal and contract terms to help ensure the parties achieve project understanding and mutually agreed upon terms, and to avoid misunderstandings and future disputes. Approximately 90-120 minutes. Course Code: G02OSPCRSD
This is a training filled with tips to help you be successful during fiscal year end. We cover DocuSign, our review process, annual plans and a few policies as well. This is meant for anyone who has a document to route to the OSP during fiscal year end. Course Code: G02OSPTTFYE