NASPO Pulse

AI is showing up in procurement workflows whether we invite it or not, so we wanted a grounded conversation about what actually works and what can backfire. I’m joined by Jennifer Lyons, Deputy General Counsel at the Operational Services Division for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to talk practical AI in public procurement with real examples from the field, not theory.

We dig into where AI delivers immediate value, like speeding up repeatable administrative tasks, summarizing complex RFP and RFR documents, and generating better options during policy development. We also talk about how suppliers are using AI to quickly decide whether to respond to a solicitation, and what that means for clarity and competition.

We explore how AI can help maintain continuity across supplier issues, surface patterns in supplier performance, and support risk awareness. Jennifer also explains why Massachusetts built tools inside secure environments, including a procurement chatbot used for onboarding and help desk support, plus a contract editor nicknamed 1L that accelerates first-pass redlining. Throughout, we keep coming back to the non-negotiables: transparency, fairness, bias awareness, and the reality that humans remain accountable for accuracy and final decisions.

If you’re building an AI policy, planning a pilot, or trying to choose your first “quick win,” this conversation will help you separate safe productivity gains from high-risk automation. 

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What does it take to manage procurement for one of the largest and most decentralized governments in the country? Texas Chief Procurement Officer Bobby Pounds shares how the state balances consistency with agency autonomy, strengthens supplier participation, and uses vendor performance data to improve procurement outcomes. Along the way, he offers practical leadership lessons—including why procurement leaders should be "coaches, not cops."

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In this episode of NASPO Pulse, host Julia McIlroy sits down with Nebraska Chief Procurement Officer and General Counsel Michelle Potts to explore how the state balances centralized oversight with agency flexibility across a large state. Michelle shares insights from her unconventional path into public procurement, discusses leading with both legal and procurement perspectives, and explains how Nebraska is supporting local vendors, empowering agencies through training, and navigating challenges like AI, evolving legislation, and limited resources.

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Successful technology contracts depend on much more than well-written terms and conditions. In this episode, NASPO's Director of Legal Education, Megan Smyth, discusses the real challenges of SaaS contract management, including data security, vendor relationships, decentralized purchasing, and strategic risk management. She also explores how states are beginning to use AI to streamline contract reviews while maintaining oversight and compliance in an increasingly complex technology environment.

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As government agencies increasingly adopt cloud-based technologies, traditional procurement models are evolving. In this episode, NASPO's Director of Legal Education, Megan Smyth explores how SaaS and subscription-based services are changing the way states purchase, manage, and think about technology. From ownership versus access to the hidden risks of click-through agreements, Megan shares practical insights for procurement professionals navigating today's digital landscape.

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We're joined by Samantha Willis, Chief Procurement Officer for the State of West Virginia, to unpack what state purchasing really looks like from the inside and what makes procurement leadership work when the stakes are high, and the days never look the same.

Samantha shares how she found her way into government contracts through a love of contract law, negotiation, and problem-solving. We talk about the “gravity” of leading a statewide purchasing division, why leaders need to listen first, and how institutional knowledge from experienced staff turns theory into practice. She also challenges a common trap in government procurement: assuming the rules always mean less flexibility than they actually do, and how careful legal interpretation can open better, still-compliant paths forward.

We also get practical about building a strong procurement team and attracting new talent, focusing on people skills, customer service, and a willingness to learn over perfect resumes.

Subscribe for more public procurement leadership stories, share this with a colleague who works in government contracting, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

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What if government buying felt fast, fair, and transparent—and actually powered economic growth? We sit down with New York State’s Chief Procurement Officer, Dhanraj Singh, to unpack a bold modernization effort shaped by a clear mandate from elected officials. The goal is bigger than technology: build a people-first procurement ecosystem that cuts cycle times, scales innovation, and delivers better outcomes for residents, agencies, and suppliers.

We go inside the pivot from siloed procurement shops to an enterprise approach with shared analytics, standard methods, and a statewide platform. We dig into the pain points that forced change—manual processes, fragmented data, and slow approvals—and the practical steps New York is taking to fix them. From automating repetitive tasks to deploying real-time vendor feedback with Procurated, the team is prioritizing tools that enable good judgment rather than replace it. We also talk about how dashboards and data literacy are improving performance oversight, risk management, and decision speed.

At the center of it all is the workforce. New York is investing in skills for contract administration, negotiation, category management, and leadership, while putting change management up front through coaching, assessments, and strategic retreats. The aim is a resilient, energized profession that can respond to crises and raise the bar for public service. We also explore equity and access—making it easier for minority- and women-owned businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to compete and win—and why success will be measured by how the system feels for people, not by the tools alone.

Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more practitioners find these stories. What’s the one change you’d make to modernize procurement where you work?

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What if public procurement felt less like red tape and more like a strategic engine that delivers real outcomes people notice? We sit down with Colorado’s Chief Procurement Officer, Sherri Maxwell, for a candid look at how a decentralized state is aligning strategy, data, and people to build a smarter buying ecosystem that actually works in the field.

Sherri traces her path from buying wheel chocks to leading statewide change, revealing how frontline experience fuels her obsession with continuous improvement. We unpack Colorado’s shift away from “set it and forget it” contracts toward surgical, data-driven strategic sourcing backed by rigorous market research and real performance feedback. You’ll hear how honest vendor partnerships, clear expectations, and constant touch points turn contracts into living tools that deliver.

We also dig into the homegrown Procurement Insights program—bite-sized analytics that help agencies spot spending patterns, shorten solicitation timelines, and fix recurring compliance snags. Instead of policing, her team consults: if errors cluster, they ask why and address training or template gaps. Add in a modern learning stack—on-demand courses, certifications, and statewide contract management training with support from the Procurement Professionals Alliance—and you get a workforce that speaks a common language and acts with confidence after the ink dries.

Subscribe, share with a colleague who cares about better government buying, and leave us a review with one change you want to see in public procurement.

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With Delbert Singleton Jr. and Stacy Adams, we dive into South Carolina’s competitive negotiations model—a source selection method designed for high-stakes buys like ERP, digital services, and cloud—where the team establishes a competitive range and negotiates in parallel with multiple finalists. By moving beyond apples-to-apples checklists, we explore how trade‑offs, enhancements, and smarter risk allocation can surface more value than a traditional RFP ever could.

We walk through the full arc: building an acquisition team, doing real market research, crafting a different kind of solicitation, and running an initial evaluation that focuses on capability and value potential. Then comes the critical shift—setting a tight competitive range (often three), negotiating detailed terms with each finalist, and conducting a second, final evaluation on the negotiated contracts. You’ll hear why suppliers appreciate the chance to clarify issues and propose better solutions, how the process remains transparent and criteria-led, and where a selection executive provides oversight to catch bias and keep the record defensible.

Along the way, we talk code changes, protest realities, and the kinds of outcomes this method unlocks: lower risk, better terms, and modern functionality that evolves as fast as the market. We also reflect on the human side of procurement—from museum exhibits that communities can touch to emergency logistics that keep people safe—showing why process integrity and public impact go hand in hand.

If you care about getting complex procurements right, hit play and join the conversation. Subscribe, share with a colleague who handles major acquisitions, and leave a review with your biggest procurement challenge—we may tackle it next.

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In part two of our discussion with Sherry Neas from North Dakota, we lay out a practical playbook that starts with a precise legislative summary, aligns interpretations with partners like risk management and the AG, and then moves through manuals, training, website updates, and template revisions that vendors can actually follow.

We talk about capacity like operators do: splitting the team so daily buying continues while a focused group drives implementation on deadline. Sherry shares how to use bill tracking tools to catch amendments that change scope at the last minute, and how to communicate updates to counties, cities, schools, and vendors in plain language. We also dig into sponsor relationships and why a short, proactive email confirming a policy launch or contract award earns lasting trust at the capitol. When vendors escalate, transparency about protests and resolution processes turns conflict into clarity.

If you care about public procurement, legislative implementation, vendor communication, and building leaders who think in laws and deliver in practice, this one’s for you. Listen, share with your team, and leave a review telling us your best post-session habit.

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