The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® (AEP) Award, founded by the National Procurement Institute, recognizes public and non-profit organizations that demonstrate excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement in public procurement.
The AEP framework provides a structured way to assess procurement maturity, strengthen governance, and highlight the strategic value procurement delivers. Evaluation areas include ethics, professional development, automation, leadership, and continuous improvement.
OPBA Webinar – February 27
OPBA is hosting a special webinar:
Achieving Excellence in Procurement | An Overview of the AEP Award
📅 February 27, 2026 | 1 PM – 2 PM ET (Virtual Event)
Registration closes February 26, 2026 – 12:00 PM ET.
This session will provide a practical overview of the AEP Award and how it can be used to benchmark your program, identify gaps, and build a roadmap toward excellence.
Whether you’re new to AEP or considering applying in the future, this webinar will help clarify what excellence looks like — and how to work toward it.
A Municipal Perspective
Asad Chughtai, Manager of Procurement Services for the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, shared:
The AEP program provides a clear, credible benchmark for excellence across North America. For a growing municipality like ours, it serves as both a roadmap and a motivator—challenging us to elevate our practices, increase accountability, and align with recognized best-in-class standards.
— Asad Chughtai, MCIPS, NISCL-CSCL, CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CPM, CMMIII, GDPA
Manager, Procurement Services, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
NPI Board Director (Canada)
For Whitchurch-Stouffville, the AEP journey supported modernization efforts, strengthened governance, and reinforced procurement’s role as a strategic enabler of public value.
Important Dates
🗓 AEP Application Deadline: May 15, 2026 (5:00 p.m. CST)
Organizations are encouraged to begin early, as the application process typically takes 2–3 months.
👉 Register for the February 27 webinar to learn more
👉 Download the AEP Award Overview (PDF)
👉 Visit the NPI website for full program details