Procurement

The mission of the Procurement Department is to serve the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and its subsidiaries by facilitating a procurement process that is precise, efficient, and compliant with Federal Regulations and Tribal policies. In alignment with our mission, we support the objectives of each grant and department by guiding acquisition activities and procuring essential resources, ensuring that every program can successfully fulfill its own mission and effectively serve Tribal members. As a department, we are committed to upholding the Tribe’s values in all procurement activities while building strong vendor relationships, ensuring responsible utilization of Tribal resources, and promoting fair and transparent competition.

The Procurement Department manages purchasing activities for the Tribe and its subsidiaries to ensure compliance with applicable policies and regulations. Purchases are categorized as either informal procurement, which includes micro-purchases and simplified acquisitions, or formal procurement, which consists of sealed bids and proposals. We collaborate with each program to understand their needs and select the appropriate procurement method to fulfill each request effectively. Our approach to purchasing involves innovative planning, thorough research, historical data analysis, and strategic sourcing practices to deliver quality goods and resources at competitive prices.

Our team focuses on procuring quality items and negotiating favorable terms to maximize savings and protect the Tribe’s purchasing power. Whether sourcing office supplies, IT hardware, vehicles, equipment, construction contracts, or travel accommodations, we work diligently to meet the Tribe’s needs with efficiency and reliability. We maintain a diverse vendor database of trusted businesses while continually seeking new supplier opportunities.

In addition to purchasing, our department enhances operational efficiency by administering the electronic purchasing system for the Tribe and the Health System, hosting bi-annual training sessions for employees, managing AST credit card accounts and service contracts for network devices and printers, and identifying new technologies to improve current processes. We also safeguard the Tribe’s interests by tracking and conducting inventory to ensure responsible stewardship of Tribal Assets. Additionally, the Procurement Department serves as the liaison for the Tribe’s insurance policies and files automobile, property, and general liability claims.

The central focus of the Procurement Department is to streamline the acquisition process, enabling the programs we support to concentrate on what truly matters: providing valuable service to Tribal Members and supporting the Tribe’s mission.