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: 231-240 of 248 results for “P”

  • Purchaser

    1. One who acquires goods, construction, and services on behalf of an organization. 2. A buyer agent who purchases on behalf of an organization. 3. A procurer of goods, commodities, services, and construction.

  • Purchasing Agency

    Any governmental body which is authorized to enter into Contracts.

  • Purchasing Audit

    A comprehensive, systematic, independent, and periodic examination of an organization’s purchasing environment, objectives, strategies, and activities with a view toward identifying strengths and weaknesses, including a plan of action to improve purchasing performance. (ISM, 2000)

  • Purchasing Card


    See Also: Procurement Card (pCard), pCard

  • Purchasing Cycle

    The sequence of activities carried out by a purchasing department in the acquisition of supplies and services.

    See Also: Cradle-to-Grave

  • Purchasing Entity

    Any governmental body that is authorized to enter into contracts.

  • Purchasing Ethics


    See Also: Ethics

  • Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC)

    CANADIAN An educational and technical organization of purchasing and materiel management personnel and buying organizations, both public and private sector.

  • Purchasing Manager

    Public purchasing employee with responsibility and authority to act for the public agency in certain areas.

  • Purchasing Manual

    A document that describes rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to be followed by the purchasing organization and the agencies/departments it serves.