OMNIA Partners

10/08/2026

Government agencies are being asked to modernize while navigating tighter budgets, higher prices, and growing operational demands.

According to Richard McVay, Senior Director of IT at OMNIA Partners, three IT procurement priorities are rising to the top:

𝟭. 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Some agencies are confronting budget cuts of 15% or more while seeing prices for the same products and services increase by 10% to 35% or more. Closing that gap requires sharper prioritization, stronger vendor strategies and a renewed focus on measurable value.

𝟮. 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Aging ERP and HCM systems, limited scalability and legacy platforms are slowing agencies down. Many are exploring cloud-first strategies, SaaS models and phased modernization plans that improve performance without disrupting critical services.

𝟯. 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
With fewer people and fewer dollars, agencies need practical ways to do more with less. AI and advanced analytics can help identify potential savings and uncover new efficiencies. But sustainable adoption depends on trusted data, effective governance and clear accountability.

For procurement leaders, modernization is no longer simply about acquiring new technology. Organizations need to make smarter investments that help agencies deliver more resilient, efficient and responsive public services.

What is top of mind for your organization? Tell us in the comments.

10/06/2026

Cybersecurity reaches beyond the technology team.

Procurement plays an essential role because every supplier relationship can introduce risks tied to data access, systems, and contract compliance.

A supplier’s security posture deserves the same scrutiny as its capabilities and pricing. Evaluating it early can expose vulnerabilities before they create costly gaps.

Cooperative contracts can help by including security requirements in agreements and giving teams access to suppliers that have completed a competitive solicitation process.

These third-party vulnerabilities are a key source of hidden supply chain risk. Ashish Agarwal, Executive Vice President of Technology at OMNIA Partners, recently weighed in on this important topic for Forbes Technology Council.

Read his full take here: https://bit.ly/45Lbfnp

10/05/2026

Cybersecurity risk can enter through every new technology supplier.

During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, much of the conversation focuses on firewalls, employee training, and internal IT policies. Yet supplier evaluation is another critical part of protecting systems and data.

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗧 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸:
🔹 How mature is the supplier’s security posture?
🔹 How quickly are known vulnerabilities addressed?
🔹 Who can access organizational data?
🔹 What happens to that data when the contract ends?

Cooperative contracts can provide a stronger starting point. Because each contract results from a competitive solicitation and includes established documentation, procurement and IT teams can spend more time evaluating whether a solution meets their specific security, performance, and data requirements.

Curious how our IT Solutions Lookbook can help you think through vendor evaluation? See our solutions here: https://www.omniapartners.com/resources/omnia-partners-it-solutions-catalog?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=IT%20Catalog&utm_content=Oct_2026&CID=2026_01&IID=2&CatID=8&PID=1&PUR=1

10/02/2026

Public procurement teams are being asked to do more with less. That's not new.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄: the gap between those who have the right tools and partnerships — and those who don't — is getting wider.

We surveyed 130+ procurement professionals at the NIGP Forum in Columbus this August. Here's what they told us:

→ 𝟰𝟳% 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲
→ 𝟲𝟱% 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱
→ 𝟱𝟭% 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲

But here's what stood out most: 𝗢𝗠𝗡𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Cooperative contracts don't eliminate pressure. But they change what you're able to do inside it.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: https://www.omniapartners.com/blog/doing-more-with-less-in-public-procurement?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NIGP%20Survey%20Blog&utm_content=Oct_2026&CID=2026_01&IID=2&CatID=1&PID=1&PUR=1

09/30/2026

Procurement can influence far more than the annual savings target. When CEOs view it as a source of growth, the conversation expands to how supplier relationships can reduce risk and create value across the organization.

That shift in perspective changes what follows. It affects how procurement teams are staffed, when they enter strategic conversations, and how their impact is measured across the business.

In his latest Forbes Business Council article, Todd Abner, President and CEO of OMNIA Partners, shares why CEOs should see procurement as a growth engine and what that shift can unlock.

Read the full article here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2026/09/30/turning-cost-centers-into-growth-engines-what-ceos-should-know-about-procurement/

Strategic procurement is only possible when the leaders and teams responsible for it are aligned with organizational objectives from the start.

09/29/2026

Most organizations don't think about emergency procurement until they're already in crisis mode.

That's exactly when it's too late.

OMNIA Partners and Global Industrial partnered to tackle this head-on, creating a practical resource for procurement professionals who want to move from reactive purchasing to genuine organizational preparedness.

Inside, you'll find real-world strategies for building emergency readiness into your procurement planning, along with firsthand perspective from The Salvation Army USA on what disaster response and recovery actually look like on the ground.

Because when the unexpected happens, the organizations that respond best aren't the ones scrambling to figure it out. They're the ones who planned ahead.

Read more: https://www.omniapartners.com/resources/emergency-readiness-from-reactive-purchasing-to-proactive-preparedness?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Global%20Industrial%20Webinar&utm_content=Oct_2026&CID=2026_01&IID=1&CatID=7&PID=4&PUR=1

09/28/2026

Racing for Rescue is just a few days away. Join us on October 1 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at McEwen Northside Park as we support the all-volunteer Williamson County Fire/Rescue squad.

Walk a mile in the squad’s honor, meet the volunteers, and see the fire trucks up close. Food and festival activities will also be available for the whole family.

Every donation goes directly toward the squad’s training and equipment needs. This year, together with Sunbelt Rentals Inc. and the Gary Sinise Foundation, we are raising funds to help purchase a UTV with a skid unit, giving volunteers another critical resource to serve our community.

Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4y7mIK8

09/25/2026

The most valuable insights at NIGP Forum 2026 came from the people navigating public procurement’s toughest challenges every day.

We came ready to listen, learn, and exchange ideas with leaders from across the profession. From limited staff and resources to data visibility, our conversations revealed how procurement teams are adapting, innovating, and preparing for what comes next.

OMNIA Partners exists to solve the procurement challenges that slow teams down. Learn more at https://www.omniapartners.com/problems-we-solve?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Problems%20we%20solve&utm_content=Oct_2026&CID=2026_01&IID=1&CatID=1&PID=1&PUR=1

If you attended NIGP Forum 2026, what insight will you bring back to your team?

09/24/2026

The strongest technology leaders engage long before a business challenge becomes a request for a specific solution. By joining the conversation early, they can help define the real need and shape a smarter path forward.

That shift requires CTOs to move beyond responding to requests. They need to understand business priorities, challenge assumptions thoughtfully, and build shared ownership across teams. These habits make technology a more active part of company strategy.

In his latest Forbes Technology Council article, Ashish Agarwal, Executive Vice President of Technology at OMNIA Partners, explores the behaviors that help CTOs grow from service providers into strategic business partners.

Read Ashish’s article here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2026/09/15/the-habits-that-separate-strategic-ctos-from-business-led-service-providers/

Tech leaders must adopt behavioral changes to reframe their organization’s perception of them as strategists and partners.

09/23/2026

Cooperative purchasing helps higher education procurement teams extend their reach by providing streamlined access to competitively solicited contracts.

Jeff Mandel, Director of Procurement Shared Services for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), shares why cooperative contracts are an important part of his procurement strategy:

“We find value in cooperatives where the State System does not have significant leverage in the respective market and where another lead agency has already taken on the solicitation process and contracting legwork. Co-op contracts offer a much more streamlined and timely sourcing option.”

Read more about how OMNIA Partners worked with PASSHE to improve their purchasing process: https://www.omniapartners.com/success-stories/pennsylvania-state-system-higher-ed-procurement?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=PASSHE%20Success%20Story&utm_content=Sep_2026&CID=2026_01&IID=6&CatID=1&PID=1&PUR=1