SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has become the first Illinois state agency to ever receive the national Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Procurement Institute. This marks a milestone for the office’s ongoing efforts to deliver more efficient, transparent and accountable government for Illinois taxpayers.
The Secretary of State’s office was also the only Illinois government agency recognized with the award in 2026.
Presented annually, the AEP Award recognized the office’s Procurement Division for excelling in five core areas: innovation, professional expertise, eProcurement technology, leadership and productivity. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office exceeded the total number of points to qualify for the award, reflecting its commitment to modernizing procurement operations and strengthening accountability.
“Illinois taxpayers deserve a government that spends their dollars wisely, operates efficiently and earns the public’s trust,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said. “This national recognition reflects our commitment to modernizing government, strengthening accountability and ensuring every procurement decision is transparent and a good value for taxpayers. Being the first Illinois state agency to receive this honor is a testament to the outstanding work of our procurement team.”
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“We are proud to recognize the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office with the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Earning this distinction requires an extraordinary commitment to innovation, integrity and continuous improvement of standards that the Secretary of State’s Procurement Division has not only met, but exceeded," said Carrie Mathes, AEP Officer on the Board of Directors for the National Procurement Institute. "Their leadership in modernizing processes, advancing transparency and elevating professional practice sets a new benchmark for public procurement in Illinois.”
The Secretary of State’s office received recognition for numerous initiatives that demonstrate procurement best practices, including:
- Establishing strong governance and accountability measures, including a comprehensive procurement ethics policy, centralized procurement authority and a published procurement manual to ensure consistency and transparency.
- Implementing a continuous improvement program featuring employee and vendor feedback surveys, formal procurement training for staff and educational workshops for vendors.
- Modernizing procurement operations by expanding the use of electronic procurement systems and automated workflows to streamline purchasing and improve efficiency.
- Investing in professional leadership and industry engagement through nationally recognized certifications, leadership roles in procurement organizations and presentations at state and national conferences.
- Expanding cooperative purchasing strategies to maximize value, improve flexibility and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
The recognition highlights the Secretary of State’s broader modernization agenda, which has focused on replacing outdated, paper-based processes with more efficient digital services while strengthening transparency and operational performance. Through initiatives such as the One-Stop-Shop customer service model, expanded online services and modernized processes, the office has improved service delivery for residents, businesses and government partners while creating a more efficient and responsive state government.
Alexi Giannoulias was sworn into office as Illinois’ 38th Secretary of State on January 9, 2023. In this capacity, he also serves as the State Librarian and State Archivist. Giannoulias is committed to transforming the office’s antiquated IT infrastructure to modernize operations and improve customer service for all Illinoisans.
