PEN is a free, online community designed to empower public procurement change agents to make operational reforms. We offer virtual trainings, actionable tools, customizable templates, and coaching calls, while building peer connections for procurement reformers as they launch efforts to make procurement more efficient, fair, results-driven, and strategic.

PEN aims to create a community of government staff learning, connecting, and creating together. Many of the resources in PEN are designed for those looking to make reforms in how their government procures and contracts for priority goods or services. These support resources relate to both big operational changes (e.g., moving from a decentralized to a centralized procurement organization) and smaller incremental process improvements (e.g., looking for a better model for a requisition intake form). We know government professionals are busy, so PEN gives members the flexibility to engage at their preferred level.

PEN offers:

• Community: Connect and exchange ideas with 2,400+ innovators at the local, state, and federal level through our Member Directory and Conversations Board
• Coaching: Receive free one-to-one or small-group support from experienced procurement advisors to help guide you through a procurement challenge or reform
• Trainings and Sprints: Attend monthly sessions sharing new tactics to tackle thorny procurement topics and apply for facilitated learning cohorts designed to jumpstart procurement reforms
• Resources: Access how-to-guides, case studies, and customizable templates such as an RFP writing guidebook, a contract management plan, and a set of strategies to boost vendor competition

PEN is designed for government professionals and elected leaders in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, including those in both junior and senior roles. Those working in the private or nonprofit sector are not currently eligible to join PEN but are welcome to access public-facing website content and events.

The target audience for PEN is individuals whose work touches procurement, regardless of which department or agency they’re in.  If you believe procurement can be a powerful tool for good and want to be inspired by others who believe the same, the Procurement Excellence Network is the place for you!

PEN is free. We provide resources, events, and coaching calls via PEN at no cost to government professionals.

There is no cap on the number of people who can sign up for PEN. We encourage multiple people and entire teams from the same government jurisdiction to join our community. PEN membership is specific to the individual, not the jurisdiction.

PEN is open to professionals working in local, regional, tribal, state, or federal governments and government agencies in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Our resources and best practices are applicable to mid-sized and large cities, counties, and states at all levels of government. However, we do recognize that some challenges may manifest differently in smaller communities, and we are always happy to meet with you one-on-one to discuss challenges you have that are not covered in our resources. Email us at PEN@PartnersforPublicGood.org with questions about whether PEN is a fit for your jurisdiction.

Coaching sessions are appointments for one-on-one coaching or support with a procurement advisor, available to PEN members free of charge. Do you have a question about how to implement a best practice you read about in one of our publications? Or do you want to dive deeper into how you might replicate a success story shared in a PEN virtual event? We’re happy to help you think through potential approaches to tackling tricky procurement problems.

For example, a Sustainability Coordinator for a small city in the Pacific Northwest wanted to better understand how to measure environmental outcomes for key procurements as the city prepared to develop a sustainable purchasing policy. He met with PEN team members for an hourlong coaching session to talk through effective performance metrics, review peer government sustainable purchasing policies, and make a plan for stakeholder engagement.

Contact us at any time to request a coaching session.

We are always eager to hear new success stories or ideas for ways we can best support you! Reach out to us with questions, comments, or ideas at PEN@PartnersforPublicGood.org.

If you’re looking for additional resources, tailored 1:1 support, or anything else, contact us! We are also available by email at PEN@PartnersforPublicGood.org. We generally respond to inquiries within 1-2 business days.

PPG is a non-partisan, not-for-profit team of doers, coaches, and advisors focused on making government work for its people. We believe good government is efficient, effective, and built to deliver results. We help state and local governments optimize and streamline the most important work that they do: deliver public goods like clean water, vibrant parks, reliable public transit, and emergency response services.

To deliver these public goods, dozens of public servants have to work hard behind the scenes to navigate a maze of procurement, budgeting, and technology, otherwise known as the government’s “back office.”  These processes are often hampered by arcane policies and layers of bureaucracy. That’s where we come in: we work alongside government staff to maximize delivery of public goods while minimizing costs and red tape. We help fix operations because we know that when government works, communities thrive.

We scope new projects year-round. If you’re interested in collaborating  with us on a project, please reach out!

If you would like to receive a link to a recording of a PEN event from before March 2025, please email us at PEN@PartnersforPublicGood.org.