The Oklahoma State University Office of Central Procurement has earned the 2026 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute.

This is the fourth time since 2018 that OSU has received this award recognizing organizational excellence in public procurement through a rigorous evaluation of innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership and e-procurement practices.

“This national recognition demonstrates the important role our procurement team plays in strengthening the OSU System, improving institutional effectiveness and creating opportunities for greater impact,” said Scott Schlotthauer, associate vice president and  chief procurement officer. “As we move forward with our strategic priorities, this commitment to continuous improvement helps us better fulfill our land-grant mission and serve all of Oklahoma.”

Among the 251 public and nonprofit agencies receiving this award, OSU is the only Oklahoma recipient and one fewer than 20 institutions of higher education awarded.

According to NPI, this year’s program reached historic milestones with a record-breaking 269 applications, representing 28 U.S. states and Canada, and 42 first-time recipients.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it validates our team's commitment to continuous improvement and the culture of excellence we have worked diligently to build. We believe excellence is never the finish line,” said Joe Teel, director of procurement operations. “Our goal is to keep exceeding excellence by continually improving our processes, strengthening internal controls, embracing innovation and delivering exceptional customer service while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, transparency and public accountability.

“Every procurement represents an opportunity to strengthen stewardship of public funds, improve service to our campuses, and build trust through fair, open and ethical procurement practices. We are honored to be recognized among the nation's leading public procurement organizations and remain committed to advancing procurement excellence across the Oklahoma A&M System.”

The Office of Central Procurement helps the OSU and A&M Systems purchase the goods and services they need in a timely, cost-effective way while ensuring purchases follow established guidelines.

Established in 1995, the AEP Award is open to all public and nonprofit organizations. The program’s comprehensive criteria promote continuous improvement and elevate procurement as a vital contributor to good governance.

To view the full list of 2026 recipients visit https://www.npi-aep.org/award-recipients and to learn more about the AEP Award, visit https://www.npi-aep.org/aep-award.­­­