NASPO Pulse

National Association of State Procurement Officials

Welcome to the NASPO Pulse Podcast, your source for exploring emerging public procurement issues. Join us as we engage in insightful conversations with procurement professionals, partners, and industry leaders. Discover a diverse range of perspectives and opinions on various topics that are shaping the procurement landscape. Whether you're a state procurement official or interested in the field, this podcast provides essential insights to keep you informed. Tune in for the conversations that matter in the realm of procurement.

  1. 6d ago

    CPO + CIO Collaboration: Rethinking IT Procurement for the Digital Age

    We dig into the mechanics of a strong CPO-CIO partnership, from regular check-ins to creating a culture where procurement brings IT in early and IT brings procurement in early. You’ll hear how cooperative contracts like NASPO ValuePoint can speed up acquisitions while staying competitive, why an RFI can be the smartest first move, and how both teams handle the real tension that shows up when speed, compliance, and long-term value collide. Software also isn’t a simple commodity anymore. We talk about evaluating technology risk through both lenses: procurement fairness and technology governance. Utah shares a real example of an AI tool tied to sensitive data (HIPAA, CJIS, and PII) that had to be paused because security controls didn’t match the stakes. From there, we zoom out to AI procurement and contracting, including how fast-evolving capabilities force updates to cloud terms and conditions, and how frontier AI models raise the cybersecurity baseline for every state. If you care about public procurement, state IT, cybersecurity, and responsible AI governance, this conversation is a practical blueprint.  Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  2. Sep 14

    AI as Your Procurement Teammate: Jennifer Lyons (MA) on Human-AI Collaborations

    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.  Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  3. Aug 11

    Bigger Than Texas: Leading Procurement at Scale

    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." Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  4. Jul 13

    How Nebraska Makes Procurement Work Without an E-Procurement System

    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. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  5. Jun 23

    The Contract Doesn't Fail—The Management Does: Lessons for Modern Procurement

    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. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  6. Jun 15

    From Ownership to Access: How SaaS is Reshaping Public Procurement

    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. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  7. May 12

    What Every New Chief Procurement Officer Needs to Know About Leadership

    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. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

  8. Apr 21

    Data, Dashboards, and Decisions: New York's New Procurement Model

    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? Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook

See All (76)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to the NASPO Pulse Podcast, your source for exploring emerging public procurement issues. Join us as we engage in insightful conversations with procurement professionals, partners, and industry leaders. Discover a diverse range of perspectives and opinions on various topics that are shaping the procurement landscape. Whether you're a state procurement official or interested in the field, this podcast provides essential insights to keep you informed. Tune in for the conversations that matter in the realm of procurement.

Information

  • Creator
    National Association of State Procurement Officials
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NASPO
  • Show Website
    NASPO Pulse

You Might Also Like