FAQ

What is Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc.?

FAPPO - the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. It was founded in 1967 and its mission is “to promote the achievement of excellence in public procurement through education, certification, professional development and networking of its membership.” Its vision statement is “to be the leading professional association promoting the best practices of public procurement.”

Who may become a member?

FAPPO provides for six (6) types of memberships: Regular, Agency, Transitional, Retired, Academia, and Associate. 

How is Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. governed?

Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. is governed by a set of By-Laws and a Board of Directors. The board consists of the four sitting officers, President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, as well as all Past Presidents who are Regular or Associate Members. They are assisted by an Executive Director and approximately 40 committees.

How are the officers chosen?

A new Secretary is elected each year at the annual conference and that person takes office on July 1st. On that same date, all other officers advance one position and the sitting President becomes the Immediate Past President. A Nomination Form is available on the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. website. Any member may nominate himself/herself or another member to become Secretary, as long as that person meets the basic eligibility requirements and agrees to serve. Nominations from the floor may also be made during the annual conference.

When are board meetings held?

Board meetings are generally held four times a year at a location chosen by the President. Any Association member is welcome to attend any board meeting and participate in the discussions. However, only members of the Board of Directors (Current Officers and Past Presidents) may make motions and vote on them. The minutes of each board meeting are posted to the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. website.

How do I update my membership data?

To update the information listed in the website database or the membership directory, members need to sign in to the website and update their information through their member profile.

Can I keep my membership if I change agencies?

If you registered as a Regular Member, and not a member under an Agency Membership, your membership will remain with you and will follow you to a new entity, so long as you still meet the requirements of a Regular Member.

When is the annual conference held?

The annual conference is typically held in May of each year, depending on the availability of hotel and trade show space.

How are conference sites chosen?

The site for each conference is chosen by the current President. Typically, the President chooses a hotel in his/her community and negotiates a contract for the room rate, meeting rooms and food services approximately 18 months in advance of the conference dates. However, recent data has suggested that because the trade show represents more than 40% of the total income for Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. we should take into consideration the availability of a large enough space to maximize the number of vendors that can be accommodated. This is likely to restrict future conferences to the larger urban areas in Florida.

How are hotels chosen for the conferences?

There are a number of factors that go into choosing a site for a Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. event. These include location; sufficient guest rooms; adequate meeting room space; a room large enough to hold the general session, business meeting and banquet; parking; and food service. Smaller (and sometimes less expensive) chain hotels have none of these facilities except guest rooms. Full service hotels do not charge separately for the use of meeting rooms. They make their money on the markup for food. As a practical matter, we cannot have everyone dine offsite and return after every meal and we are not allowed to bring in our own food from a caterer. Consequently, this lowers the number of properties that can handle a conference of our size.

Why does Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. have trade shows?

The trade show offers our members the opportunity to learn about new products and services, while vendors are eager to meet and talk to procurement professionals for upcoming opportunities to provide services to member agencies. The revenue generated helps maintain the cost of membership dues, conference registration fees, and helps subsidize our professional development goals.

What happens to the surveys that are filled out at the annual conference?

The conference survey data is compiled by the Vice President, who becomes the President for the next conference. It is discussed at the first board meeting of the new fiscal year. The comments are used to address any problems that occurred so they don’t happen again, to guide committee chairs in performing their duties during the year and to make positive changes in what is or isn’t included in the next conference. The class surveys are used to rate the instructors and gather information on what other subjects the members would like to have presented.

Why can’t I put my local NIGP chapter news and events in the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. newsletter or website?

Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. is an independent association and not affiliated with any national organization.  The primary reason for restricting the information is to avoid the appearance of favoring any one chapter or organization over another. 

Does Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. assist with obtaining professional certifications?

Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. has long supported professional certification for its members and is proud to say that about 40% of our members are certified. In 2006, the UPPCC voted to extend membership to several associations, including Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc., so we now have a presence on the UPPCC board. Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. does not subsidize the certification application fee an individual must pay to take an exam.

My agency has no training budget. How can I attend the seminars that I need for certification?

Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. has a scholarship fund for attending seminars, paying for certification, and also for college education reimbursement. The procedures for applying for a scholarship are listed on the website or you may contact the Professional Development Chair.

What are the options for obtaining a membership directory?

The membership directory is accessible through your member profile by signing in to the website. 

How can I present an idea to the leadership of Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc.?

The contact information for all officers, as well as past presidents and committee chairs, is listed on the website. Simply contact one of these individuals and present your idea. You are also free to attend a scheduled board meeting and introduce your idea under New Business.

How can I get an error fixed that I noticed on the website?

Contact the website liaison listed in the committee listing on the website. You can also forward an e-mail to the President.

Why should I volunteer?

The success of FAPPO hinges on the volunteerism and dedication of its members. This is your association and it requires a tremendous amount of effort to keep it running smoothly. The officers and Executive Director can only do so much. Service on a committee, task force, or serving as an office is a great way to meet others and to learn the aspects of running a professional organization. Any officer or committee member can tell you stories about the opportunities and personal satisfaction they’ve gotten out of serving.

How can I get involved?

The President determines the committee chairs and task forces each year. Members may contact the current Vice President to seek out opportunities in the coming year, or the current President to seek out opportunities in the current year. They may also review the list of committees on the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, Inc. website and contact a committee chairperson directly about working on that committee.