Miami-Dade Strategic Procurement Department celebrated for excellence and innovation with two statewide awards

Miami-Dade County continues to stand out as a leader in public procurement innovation and excellence. The Strategic Procurement Department (SPD) has proudly earned two prestigious statewide awards from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO): the 2026 Award of Excellence in Public Procurement and the 2026 Best Practice Award for Innovation in Procurement.

The Award of Excellence in Public Procurement recognizes public agencies that meet or exceed rigorous benchmarks in the procurement profession, including innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership. Miami-Dade County is one of 25 public agencies across Florida to receive this distinction in 2026, underscoring the County’s commitment to transparency, sustainability, and responsible procurement practices, as it continues to promote economic growth while encouraging vendors to uphold excellence in employment, environmental stewardship, and community impact

SPD also received the Best Practice Award for Innovation in the Procurement Process for its entry, “AI Assistant: A Scalable, ‘Out-of-the-Box’ Innovation Transforming How We Work by Increasing Speed, Consistency, and Access in Public Procurement.” The AI Assistant consolidates SPD’s legislative and operational framework, including policies, procedures, guidelines, templates, and local terminologies, into an intuitive conversational interface. By providing procurement professionals with instant access to reliable throughout the procurement process. Miami-Dade County is one of only three agencies that received this award.

“Miami-Dade County is committed to creating a government that is not only efficient and transparent but also innovative and community-centered, “said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.” These statewide awards recognize the outstanding work of our Strategic Procurement Department in advancing innovation and expanding opportunities for local businesses through initiatives like WISE305, while promoting best practices in sustainable economic growth.”

“Our team is inspired by the opportunity to innovate, modernize, and elevate procurement practices,” said Namita Uppal, SPD Director and Chief Procurement Officer. “By embracing technology, we are not only enhancing operational efficiencies and compliance but also creating more access to business opportunities and empowering Miami-Dade’s vibrant economy.”

These recognitions highlight Miami-Dade County’s leadership in implementing forward-thinking procurement strategies that improve government operations while promoting fair, transparent, and competitive opportunities for vendors and the business community.

For more information about the Strategic Procurement Department and business opportunities with Miami-Dade County, visit: http://www.miamidade.gov/global/strategic-procurement