Dictionary of Procurement Terms

Welcome to the NIGP Online Dictionary of Procurement Terms, the comprehensive reference for public purchasing terms and concepts.

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Search Results: 151-160 of 174 results for “A”
  • ASTM

    American Society of Testing and Materials.
  • ASTM International

    Premier professional association for supply chain and operations management and the leading provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. (APICS, 2015)
  • ATC

  • Atomic Digital Clock Time

    The atomic digital clock is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it is the master clock in the United States that provides the precise time as the basis for all other clock systems.
  • Attach

    To take legal possession.
  • Attorney Work Product Privilege

    An exemption under the Freedom of Information Act, which protects from release documents prepared by an agency’s attorney that reveal the theory of a case or proposed litigation. (Nash et al., 2007)
  • Auction

    A public sale in which property or items of merchandise are sold to the highest bidder. (Martin & Miller, 2006)
  • Auctioning

    An unethical practice that can occur during negotiations on competitive sealed proposals if the negotiating team discloses information from one offeror’s proposal to other proposers, who then change their offer so that it matches or is better than the first proposal evaluated. (Harney, 1992)
  • Audit

    A detailed review and examination of documents and business processes by internal staff or independent experts, concluding with a detailed report that may also include a management letter or findings. An audit is a formal examination or verification of financial accounts or other business operations. Examples include compliance, financial, and performance audits.
  • Auditor General of Canada (AG)

    CANADIAN Audits government operations and provides the information that helps Parliament to hold the government accountable for its stewardship of public funds.