July 16, 2009
Contact: Gordon Hickey Susan Pollard, DGS
Phone: (804) 225-4260 (804) 786-0282
Cell Phone: (804) 291-8977 (804) 641-9199
Internet: www.governor.virginia.gov www.dgs.virginia.gov
VIRGINIA’S ELECTRONIC PROCUREMENT SYSTEM SURPASSES $20 BILLION IN PURCHASES, SAVES $280 MILLION
~ Contract extended for Commonwealth’s award winning program ~
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that eVA, the Commonwealth’s Electronic Procurement System, has surpassed $20 billion in purchases of goods and services and saved the Commonwealth and taxpayers more than $280 million through streamlined purchasing and improved transparency and accountability of the procurement process.
“eVA has introduced a whole new level of procurement transparency and accountability to state officials and the general public and it has leveled the playing field for small, women, and minority owned businesses to participate in the state’s business opportunities,” Governor Kaine said. “eVA has increased the Commonwealth’s efficiency, reduced the cost of government, and allowed us to leverage our buying power, all critical objectives during these tough budget times.”
Since the program was started in 2001, eVA has had more than five million products posted online and more than 38,000 private vendors registered. The eVA program leverages Virginia’s buying power and reduces purchasing time and administrative costs. More than 171 state agencies and 575 local governments do business using eVA. In 2008 alone eVA processed more than 580,000 purchase transactions.
Virginia is viewed as a pioneer in the e-procurement field. Other states and nations, including Canada, Portugal, and Indonesia, have sought Virginia’s advice on developing their own programs. eVA is coordinated by the Division of Purchases and Supply in Virginia’s Department of General Services.
To develop eVA, the Commonwealth partnered with CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc, a leading provider of information technology and business process services with offices in Fairfax, Virginia. Working closely with CGI, eVA was designed specifically for Virginia to modernize and simplify the procurement process. Modifications to the electronic procurement system are continually made in order to meet the Commonwealth’s diverse and changing needs. This June, the Commonwealth and CGI signed a $70 million contract renewal extending the eVA contract thru June 2016.
“A recently released report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission regarding the ‘Impact of eVA on Small Virginia Businesses’ has validated the importance of eVA to the many small, women, and minority-owned businesses that are the backbone of Virginia’s economy,” said Viola O. Baskerville, Secretary of Administration. “As one small business in the report stated, ‘eVA has been absolutely tremendous in leveling the playing field in order to keep the small businesses competitive with the very large businesses…. It is a life blood for small business in general.”
“Governor Kaine has placed a high priority on supporting small businesses and operating efficiently to generate savings during these austere budget times,” said Richard F. Sliwoski, P.E., Director, Department of General Services. “eVA is a strong example of how the right technology can accomplish these objectives while bringing more accountability and transparency to government procurement.”
eVA has been awarded numerous accolades since its inception. Most recently the eVA program and Department of General Services, Division of Purchases and Supply, was recognized by eight public and private sector purchasing organizations as one of the winners of the 2009 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Among other past awards the eVA Program has received are the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council Cost Effectiveness Through Government Award, National Association of State Procurement Officials’ Cronin Gold Award for Information Technology Innovations, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Planning and Accenture, Inc. State Government Innovator Award, eGov Magazine’s Government Services Administration Technology Trailblazer Award, and the Center for Digital Government Digital State Survey in the Electronic Commerce and Business Regulation Category ranked Virginia and eVA first in the country.
