The mission of the Maryland Procurement Academy is to provide the highest quality training and performance support to achieve the goals of Maryland’s Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement.
We encourage you to bookmark this page to keep up with the latest training schedules and program offerings from the MDPA. We’re continuously updating content and support materials to best serve Maryland procurement. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Introduction to eMMA: Background to Basics | Register for this course here!
Wednesday October 11, 2023 | 10am – 10:55am
This training course for procurement staff provides a general overview of the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), including basic functionality and capability, as well as its origin and role in State procurement.
Creating a Sourcing Project in eMMA | Register for this course here!
Tuesday October 17, 2023 | 10am – 10:55am
This training course for procurement staff demonstrates how to create a sourcing project using the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), including general project information, adding team members to a project, and assigning roles.
Preparing a Solicitation in eMMA | Register for this course here!
Tuesday October 24, 2023 | 2pm – 3pm
This training course for procurement staff demonstrates how to prepare an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for solicitation using the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), including initial setup, pricing, and attachments.
Emergency Procurement: Policy, Procedure, and Reporting | Register for this course here!
Thursday October 26, 2023 | 10am – 10:30am
This training course for procurement staff provides an overview and understanding of emergency procurements, including necessary policies and procedures to conduct the procurement method accurately and efficiently, as well as complete submissions and reporting in accordance with State regulation.
The MDPA develops and offers certification programs for Maryland procurement professionals. Delivered by certified instructors and built from a balanced curriculum, the courses and training modules included with each certification program provide public procurement professionals with the knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct effective, efficient, and transparent procurement in and for the State of Maryland.
Certified Maryland Procurement Associate (CMPA) | Enrollment List Open – See Details Below!
Ongoing Program Offering | Class meetings occur every Tuesday and Thursday
Serving as the first tier of the MDPA’s certification series and Procurement Officer career path, the Certified Maryland Procurement Associate (CMPA) program focuses on the foundational components of State procurement for those beginning their professional procurement careers, as well as those working closely alongside or within procurement. The CMPA program covers the full procurement cycle with its core centered around, but not limited to, small procurement, ethics, procurement methods, awarding, eProcurement by way of the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), contract management, market research, scope of work, and the State’s Corporate Purchasing Card (CPC) program. The CMPA also serves as the prerequisite to the Certified Maryland Procurement Officer program.
Interested in participating in the CMPA program? In two quick steps, you can add your name to the program enrollment list and we take care of the rest!
- Complete the MDPA Enrollment Form — download, complete, and save to your device
- Add Your Info to the CMPA Program Enrollment List — add your name and upload your enrollment form
Certified Maryland Procurement Officer (CMPO) | Enrollment List Open – See Details Below!
Ongoing Program Offering | Class meetings occur every Tuesday and Thursday
Founded in 2020, the Certified Maryland Procurement Officer (CMPO) program serves as the primary credentialing program for officers and managers operating within the State of Maryland’s Procurement Career Group. The CMPO program builds and expands further on the foundational components learned in the CMPA program while also providing a fresh focus on State procurement law and policy, best practices and procedures for competitive sealed bids and proposals, managing a procurement project, and other core skills and competencies for Procurement Officers to be most effective. To take part in the CMPO program, participants must be confirmed staff in the State’s Procurement Career Group and must first successfully complete the CMPA program.
For a full list of Certified Maryland Procurement Officers, please click here.
Interested in participating in the CMPO program? In two quick steps, you can add your name to the program enrollment list and we take care of the rest!
- Complete the MDPA Enrollment Form — download, complete, and save to your device
- Add Your Info to the CMPO Program Enrollment List — add your name and upload your enrollment form
Following the development of tactical and operational skills within the workforce, and the formation of a strong corps of practitioners, the Certified Maryland Procurement Leader (CMPL) program plans to develop senior public procurement leaders with the strategic skills needed to drive greater value from procurement at the highest levels. The program intends to enhance key skills of strategic procurement leadership, project, and business management to help all State leaders leverage public contracting. The CMPL program is prepared for future launch.
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Maryland Procurement 101 is a self-paced interactive program for all audiences seeking to learn and understand the foundational components and principles of State procurement. Successful completion of this course not only helps to broaden awareness and comprehension of Maryland procurement, but also establishes the basic knowledge and familiarity to comfortably pursue further procurement education. The MDPA invites you to explore topics such as procurement hierarchy and authority; contracts and foundation for award; various procurement methods; the State’s Corporate Purchasing Card (CPC) program; socioeconomic policies, and more. |
Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) provide step-by-step instructions for completing various processes in eMMA. Crafted to match specific role types within the system, these helpful tech documents cover everything from registration and general platform navigation, to procurement projects, awarding, invoicing, and everything in between. Check out these handy resources via the Maryland Procurement Knowledge Portal.
Training Web Channels host all training content for State professionals, including instructor-led sessions, webinars, and on demand content. In addition to fresh uploads of the most recent training sessions, the web channel is frequently updated with tutorials and Flash Sessions.
- eMMA Training Channel — to help best utilize the system’s full scope of features and functionality
- MDPA Web Channel — including general procurement topics, State policy, and best practices
Maintaining Certification through the MDPA is quick and easy. After working hard to earn your certification, it’s just as important to keep it! Download a copy of the fillable PDF form for your own personal tracking, as well as to submit as part of required recertification procedures.
- MDPA Certification CLP Submission Form — for CMPA and CMPO program submissions
- GPS Continuing Education Submission Form — specifically for Green Purchasing Specialist program
Onboarding Resources for new additions to Maryland’s esteemed procurement workforce. This interactive onboarding document may come in handy as staff begin (or continue) their procurement journey, including live links to helpful resources such as the Maryland Procurement Manual, eMMA Quick Reference Guides, and various training tools.
- Onboarding Resources for New Procurement Staff — providing a jumpstart for new procurement staff
How are training sessions held/hosted? All training sessions are conducted using GoToWebinar. For help using the GoToWebinar platform, feel free to check out this Quick Introduction, as well as this Attendee Quick Start video.
Do I need to register in order to attend? Yes, registration is required in order to attend training sessions on the days they’re held.
How can I ask questions during training sessions? Training sessions are conducted in listen-only mode, however participants are encouraged to enter their questions in a designated question area of the webinar control panel, which is explained at the beginning of instruction. Following each session, attendees receive a follow-up email that includes a compiled Q&A, presentation slides, a link to the video recording, as well as any additional handouts (if applicable).
Are training sessions recorded? Yes! All training sessions are recorded and promptly updated via the MDPA web channels dedicated to general procurement topics, as well as eMMA-specific content. You can also visit the DGS YouTube channel for eMMA instructional videos listed under the eMMA Buyer Playlist.
Are there additional training resources for eMMA-related sessions? Most eMMA training sessions are based on eMMA Quick Reference Guides, or QRGs, which are easy to use step-by-step instructions for completing tasks and processes.
Are all training sessions recorded live? Yes! Because we’re continuously updating our training sessions, programs, and support materials, the MDPA hosts all live sessions in order to keep the content fresh, relevant, and resourceful.
Do you offer training to the vendor community? Absolutely! As part of our continued effort to support State procurement, the MDPA offers training sessions specifically for the vendor community, focusing primarily on the eMMA platform and how to best utilize its full scope of features, tools, and functionality. Feel free to spread the word and direct the vendor community to our website for updated training schedules!
Where should we direct additional questions? For any and all questions related to training support and resources, please reach out to the MDPA at dgs.osp-mdpa@maryland.gov