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✰INTERMEDIATE Workshop

Procurement Strategies: Bids, RFPs & Compliance – 1/27/27

Registration Closes:

Strengthen your procurement strategy and make more confident bidding and vendor selection decisions.

Every purchasing decision carries legal, financial, and operational implications for your district. Choosing the wrong procurement method, overlooking a compliance requirement, or mishandling a solicitation can create delays, protests, audit findings, and unnecessary risk. As procurement requirements continue to grow in complexity, school business professionals need practical strategies to navigate bidding and RFP processes with confidence.

This interactive workshop explores the decision-making framework behind successful district procurement. Participants will learn when to use formal bids, informal bids, or Requests for Proposals; how to navigate exceptions and funding-specific requirements; and best practices for managing challenging procurement scenarios. Through real-world examples and case studies, you’ll gain practical tools to strengthen compliance, improve outcomes, and make procurement decisions that support your district’s goals.

Live Virtual Workshop
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

4.0 CEUs

Who Should Attend

Purchasing professionals, Facilities and Maintenance & Operations staff, Child Nutrition and Technology leaders, Bid Administrators, Directors, Chief Business Officials, and anyone responsible for managing or supporting procurement, bidding, or RFP processes within a school district.

What You Will Learn

Participants will learn how to:

  • Determine when to use formal bids, informal bids, or Requests for Proposals
  • Select the most effective procurement method based on project scope, funding source, and district needs
  • Navigate legal requirements and compliance obligations throughout the procurement process
  • Understand exceptions to bidding requirements and when they may apply
  • Manage bid protests and other challenging procurement situations
  • Apply best practices that improve transparency, competition, and procurement outcomes

Featured Presenters

Nick Birzeno, Director, Purchasing, San Marcos USD

Nick Birzeno leads district procurement operations and has spent more than a decade driving process improvement, standardization, and strategic purchasing practices that support district goals and operational excellence.

Sharon Clay, Director, Purchasing & Logistics, Cajon Valley Union SD

With more than 20 years of experience in K–12 purchasing, contracting, and school business operations, Sharon Clay brings deep expertise in procurement strategy, compliance, and practical district purchasing practices.

Continue Your Procurement Learning

Nick Birzeno and Sharon Clay also serve as lead instructors for CASBO’s Purchasing & Procurement Micro-Certificate, providing participants with a broader and more comprehensive exploration of school district procurement and purchasing practices.

Registration

Early Bird Regular
CASBO Member $220 $270
Non-Member $305 $355

Registration & Access

Early Bird Deadline: December 28, 2026
Cancellation Deadline: January 12, 2026
Registration Closes: January 20, 2026
Cancellation Fee: $45

Participants will receive a Zoom link upon registration and again in a reminder email approximately four business days before the workshop.

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Details

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