Virginia Institute of Procurement March 2025 Newsletter

Forum 2025 Returns to Virginia Beach, November 16-19, 2025

The Virginia Institute of Procurement (VIP) is thrilled to announce that the DGS/DPS Forum 2025 is heading back to the Virginia Beach Convention Center!

Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable experience of learning, networking, and collaboration.

Registration opens May 16th:

$875: May 16 – October 3
$975: October 4 – October 17

Whether you're a past Forum attendee or new to the event, we value your input! Please take this quick 2-minute survey to share your feedback with the planning committee.

Stay tuned for updates on registration, schedules, and FAQs as we get closer to the big event. We can’t wait to see you in Virginia Beach!

Forum Survey

Get Your VCA with VIP

The Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) is the first step on your path to becoming a certified procurement professional in the Commonwealth. It is a prerequisite to obtaining the Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO). Learn more about the VCA program, then visit the VIP LMS to access the application.

There are several class sessions in 2025, but spots fill up fast! Upcoming 2025 dates are:

April 15-17 (registration closes March 15th)
May 13-15
June 10-12

After VCA, get your VCO

If you are involved in purchases over $100,000 at your agency or entity, join us for the next VCO class on August 11-15, 2025. Review this VCO flyer to see if the VCO certification is for you. Remember, obtaining your VCO automatically will recertify your VCA or VCARM!

Claim a Seat in VCARM

If you are involved with contract administration at your agency or entity, learn more about the VCARM program to see if this certification is right for you. Remember, obtaining your VCARM automatically recertifies your VCA, VCO, or VCM! Visit the VIP LMS to access the application.

2025 Class Schedule

Cohort 1 begins: April 21

Cohort 2 begins: September 15

Join Us for a Virtual VAGP Lunch & Learn!

We are excited to partner with the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing (VAGP) for an upcoming Lunch & Learn session on Contract Administration. This course focuses on the critical aspects of managing contracts throughout their lifecycle, ensuring successful project execution and compliance. Participants will learn best practices for administering contracts, monitoring performance, resolving issues, and achieving successful contract outcomes.

Lunch & Learn: VIP Series Contract Administration

April 10, 2025
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
FREE for VAGP members, $10 for non-members

Register at the VAGP Website and if you have any questions, please contact Wendy Cole-Morris at colewe@staffordschools.net.

eVA V.I.L.T.

eVA Virtual Instructor-Led Sessions (V.I.L.T.) sessions are held every month. Sign up to claim your seat now on the VIP LMS.

Catalogs: This includes the catalog shopping process, catalog vs. punchout shopping, browsing the catalog, searching for catalog items, filtering the search results, and how to use the comparison tool.
Requisitions: This includes the P2P requisition process, how to create a requisition in the new platform, the difference between catalog vs. non-catalog orders, and how to copy a requisition.
Orders: This includes the P2P order process, confirming orders, change orders, receiving as well as returning an order.
Sourcing: This includes the sourcing project layers, how to create a sourcing project, prepare an RFx, creating Unsealed Bids.
Contracts: This includes contract basics, contract creation, and the contract management process.

Catalogs:	April 8	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
P2P Requisitions	April 9	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
P2P Orders	April 10	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Sourcing	April 16	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Contracts	April 17	10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Looking for Certification Reinstatement?

Did your certification lapse recently? If you are within five years of your certification lapsing, you can have your certification reinstated without retaking the class!

To learn more about the VIP reinstatement process, view the Reinstatement Overview flyer.

Do you have questions for VIP that can only be answered in person? Did you miss the February Open House? Then join us for our next quarterly VIP Open House meeting on May 21! In this open meeting, VIP staff will be on hand to answer all of your questions about certification, recertification, and more! Sign up on the VIP LMS.

Visit the VIP Learning Management System

Virginia Department of General Services https://dgs.virginia.gov

Virginia Institute of Procurement https://vip.myabsorb.com

Email: absorb@dgs.virginia.gov