Procurement: The Next Frontier

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Brooks Williams
April 11, 2025

For decades, local governments have focused their innovative efforts on service delivery, community engagement and infrastructure modernization. But there’s a massive, often-overlooked area that’s ripe for transformation…procurement. Do not let your eyes glaze over after reading that word, trust me, it is the next great frontier in local government innovation, and it is long overdue for disruption.

Procurement isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t grab headlines like smart cities, green initiatives or cutting-edge public safety technology. But procurement touches everything. The leaders in this sector of government finance help decide how taxpayer dollars are spent, how quickly projects get off the ground and how effectively local governments can respond to the evolving needs of their communities. Yet, the systems many local governments rely on are sluggish, outdated and, frankly, uninspired.

Procurement in local government has traditionally been bogged down by bureaucracy, red tape and outdated systems that prioritize process over progress. The result? Slow project rollouts, bloated costs and innovation stifled by compliance checklists. Vendors navigate mazes of paperwork, small and local businesses struggle to compete with larger firms and public servants are left frustrated by a system that should enable them but instead holds them back.

This isn’t just inefficient, it’s dangerous. In a world that demands agility, resilience and responsiveness, governments can’t afford to let their procurement systems drag them down. The old model of procurement simply isn’t built for the complexity and speed required in today’s world.

It’s time to stop viewing procurement as a back-office function and start recognizing it as one of the most powerful strategic levers in local government. Procurement has the potential to drive innovation, support local economies and improve outcomes for communities.

The need for procurement reform has never been more urgent. Local governments are being asked to do more with less, navigating tighter budgets, rising costs and growing expectations. Communities demand faster, smarter and more equitable solutions. Yet, the procurement process remains stuck in the past, acting as a bottleneck rather than a catalyst.

The public sector must learn to move with the same agility as the private sector. This doesn’t mean abandoning accountability or oversight; it means reimagining how we achieve those goals. It means building procurement systems that are transparent, efficient and designed to deliver value, not just compliance.

Imagine a public sector procurement system designed to encourage competition while cutting through bureaucracy. The ideal system would reward innovation, not just the lowest bid. It would allow local governments to partner with mission-driven startups, small businesses and diverse suppliers, injecting fresh ideas and new energy into public projects.

This isn’t a pipe dream. It’s possible, and some forward-thinking leaders are already making it happen. Platforms like the Civic Marketplace are stepping in to bridge the gap between government needs and market solutions by connecting agencies with pre-vetted legally compliant supplier contracts. This effort, which streamlines procurement and creates a space where governments and vendors can connect with ease, is removing the friction that has long stalled progress.

This kind of solution isn’t just about technology. It’s about a shift in mindset. It’s about recognizing that procurement should be proactive, not reactive. Strategic, not procedural. Governments need platforms that foster relationships with innovative suppliers, small businesses and local entrepreneurs, unlocking new pathways to solve old problems.

Transforming procurement isn’t just about speeding up purchases. It’s about creating long-term value for communities. It’s about unlocking economic growth by giving small businesses and startups a fair shot at public contracts. It’s about ensuring that governments can pivot quickly during crises, deploy resources efficiently and invest in solutions that deliver real impact.

It’s also about enabling collaboration among local governments which can come together to drive efficiency and effectiveness gains, especially for smaller entities like mine—to get the volume discounts of the biggest agencies—our residents deserve that!

This shift in procurement will also drive internal innovation. Public employees will spend less time bogged down in process and more time focused on strategy, performance and results. It will attract top talent, people who want to work in government because they see it as a place where innovation thrives, not where ideas go to die.

Local government leaders need to ask themselves a tough question: Is our procurement process enabling innovation, or is it killing it? If the answer is the latter, it’s time to act. It’s time to challenge legacy systems, modernize processes and demand tools that match the urgency and complexity of today’s challenges.

Procurement can no longer be treated as an administrative chore. It must become a strategic powerhouse that drives local government forward.

The future of public sector innovation doesn’t start with flashy pilot programs or the latest tech gadget. It starts with rethinking the foundations, and procurement is the bedrock. The governments that embrace this shift will be the ones that build resilient, adaptable and thriving communities.

It’s time to stop treating procurement as an afterthought and start seeing it for what it truly is…the next great frontier for innovation in local government.

This column was written under the auspices of Barrett and Greene, Inc.

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Author: Brooks Williams was appointed City Manager in the Ferris, Texas in 2019.  He is a results-oriented strategic leader with two decades of management experience in the public and private sector. He is certified in Lean Six Sigma, serves on the Public Works Council for the North Texas Council of Governments, is a Board Member for the Best Southwest Partnership, serves as a Malcolm Baldrige Examiner for the Quality Texas Foundation, and is a Board Member for the Quality Texas Foundation.

 

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