Transformative Infrastructure: Navigating Project Uncertainty through Public Procurement

• Has your government received a federal grant to modernize infrastructure in your community?
• Are you concerned about the complexity, risks, or uncertainty surrounding these high-priority projects?
• As a procurement professional, are you trying to guide your colleagues on how best to solicit these grant-funded goods and services?

From revitalizing roads and bridges to expanding broadband access, infrastructure upgrades are essential to improving residents’ daily lives. Procurement teams play a critical role in making these infrastructure projects a reality, strengthening communities through innovative, resident-focused approaches. While the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) infused significant funding to modernize the nation’s infrastructure, uncertainty persists around resourcing and policy requirements at the federal, state, and local level. These projects are also inherently complex and risky, from unforeseen site conditions to cost-overruns driven by inflation.

The Procurement Excellence Network hosted a 60-minute session that explored how procurement can help governments navigate these uncertainties and deliver successful infrastructure outcomes.  During this session, we shared:

• Peer Case Studies: We heard examples of how governments are using procurement to manage uncertainty and move their infrastructure projects forward.
• FREE Technical Assistance: We learned about opportunities to apply for project planning, procurement, or delivery support for governments’  infrastructure initiatives tailored by experts at Partners for Public Good.

Post-Event Session: Many participants stayed on for an optional 30-minute open dialogue on how existing procurement laws and regulations impact infrastructure project delivery, as well as shared success stories of policy changes that enabled more innovative approaches.