Description

Struggling with inefficiencies, miscommunication, or compliance gaps in professional services procurement? This course equips federal government professionals with practical tools and insights to identify, assess, and reduce procurement-related “noise”—the small but costly issues, from unclear requirements to inconsistent evaluations, that can slow projects, trigger audit concerns, or expose your organization to risk.

Designed for procurement officers, contract specialists, and oversight professionals, the course focuses on professional services acquisitions, including consulting, IT support, legal services, or training—areas where evaluating proposals, drafting clear statements of work, and setting defensible evaluation criteria can be challenging.

Through interactive discussions, case studies, and real-world audit examples, you will learn how procurement noise emerges—from unclear documentation and inconsistent evaluation practices to weak contract management—and how to address it proactively. The course guides you step by step in mapping vulnerabilities, conducting compliance and readiness assessments, and implementing practical strategies that improve oversight and accountability.

You’ll explore federal procurement frameworks, government-wide oversight tools, and best practices that enhance transparency and reduce ambiguity. By the end of the course, you will understand how to communicate procurement risks clearly to decision-makers and strengthen processes to minimize delays and exposure.

Whether you manage a procurement team or are directly responsible for acquiring professional services, this course provides actionable strategies to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and foster greater confidence in your procurement outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course the participant will be able to:

  • Identify sources of procurement-related noise in professional services acquisitions
  • Evaluate compliance vulnerabilities within the federal procurement context
  • Conduct readiness assessments for compliance audits and oversight reviews
  • Interpret existing federal oversight practices and pinpoint systemic gaps
  • Apply best practices to improve transparency and reduce ambiguity in professional services procurement
  • Recommend targeted strategies to minimize procurement risks and strengthen accountability

Duration

6 hours

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Instructor

 

Martin Chénier is an award‑winning business and people manager with over 20 years of experience supporting public sector procurement of professional services. Known as “PACman” within the procurement community, he is the President and Founder of The Procurement Alliance of Canada, which provides practical training, advisory services, and learning resources to public sector procurement professionals and suppliers.

Having been exposed to "both sides" of the process (selling and buying), Martin helps bridge a knowledge gap. He is a frequent speaker and advisor, known for his practical, experience‑based approach to improving the public procurement experience. PAC members and training participants gain insights on the "why" and "how" to help improve the procurement experience ... for both sides.