Building confidence in how Washington spends public money
When state agencies buy goods and services, they spend taxpayer dollars. DES helps make sure those purchases are made responsibly.
One way we do that is through the Procurement Risk Assessment (PRA) process. We recently completed the 2024-2025 review and it marks a milestone. Not only did we strengthen the process, we took half the time compared to previous years, and that means an even better use of public dollars!
On June 23, DES reviewed risk assessments for 105 state agencies, boards, and commissions, and assessed 101 of them (four agencies were outside the scope of our review). For those 101 agencies, the process ensured that each organization has an updated assessment of its procurement practices and the purchasing authority they need to move forward.
What the PRA is and why it matters
DES is the statewide authority for all state purchases of goods and services. We delegate purchasing authority for goods and services to state agencies based on a PRA.
The PRA is an assessment of agencies' procurement practices and their compliance with procurement policies for buying goods and services. Its purpose is to see whether agencies are following state laws and policies, using appropriate safeguards, and making purchasing decisions that protect public funds. The PRA is used to determine each agency's level of delegated purchase authority.
In previous years, the review cycle could take up to three years to complete. This cycle, however, lasted only 16 months! The shorter interval of regulatory feedback helps ensure purchasing decisions align with Washington's environmental and social justice goals as well as prioritize the best value preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.
How DES sped up the review cycle
At DES, we are always looking for ways to improve the things we do – not just for our staff, but for the entire state. Our faster timeline is made possible by effective use of state dollars to add staffing dedicated to PRA work, so we could do this critical review in the best way possible. We also created a new approach that significantly streamlined the process for both external customers and internal staff.
"This is a major accomplishment that focused on consistency, accountability, efficiencies, and providing support to all state agencies," said Christine Warnock, DES enterprise procurement policy and compliance manager.
By reviewing agency compliance and internal controls, DES can identify potential risks, confirm that safeguards are working as intended, and help agencies address issues before they grow.
"It's gratifying to see that state agencies have improved their procurement risk management practices so that they reduce waste and increase the value obtained with scarce state resources," said Drew Zavatsky, DES procurement risk assessment manager.
Why it matters to Washington residents
Although the PRA work happens behind the scenes, Washington residents benefit from it every day. Washington's small and diverse vendor community also benefits when agencies work to dismantle barriers in their procurement practices as identified through DES' risk assessment. Strong procurement practices help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, fairly, and in compliance with state law.