Illinois Secretary of State Office Receives National Procurement Award

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has become the first state agency in Illinois to receive the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute. The office was also the only Illinois government agency to earn the recognition in 2026. The award honors excellence in innovation, professional expertise, electronic procurement technology, leadership, and productivity. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the recognition reflects the office’s work to improve efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the way taxpayer dollars are spent. The office received the award for strengthening procurement policies, expanding electronic purchasing systems, providing training for employees and vendors, increasing participation in professional procurement organizations, and using cooperative purchasing to improve value. Officials said the recognition also reflects broader efforts to modernize government services by replacing paper based processes with digital systems and expanding online services for residents, businesses, and government agencies.