At this year’s NIGP Forum, Gary Link, Vice President of Public Sector for Edge Public, sat down with Brett Grady, CEO of Procurex, to discuss the company’s growth, its innovative approach to procurement, and the future of holistic pricing in the public sector.
Procurement Excellence as an Extension of Staff
Procurex positions itself as an extension of procurement departments, helping agencies do more with less staff. Their team provides deep procurement expertise combined with proprietary tools designed to:
- Write specifications
- Analyze suppliers
- Run events
- Strategically identify best-fit vendors
As Grady explained, “We help procurement teams that are stretched thin—whether in higher education, public sector, or private sector—by taking on the heavy lifting and helping them achieve better outcomes.”
From Reverse Auctions to Holistic Pricing Events
One of the biggest shifts Procurex is driving is a move away from the sometimes misunderstood model of reverse auctions. Instead, they focus on what they call holistic pricing events.
This approach places pricing as an important factor—but not the only one—in supplier selection. By evaluating total value, not just cost, agencies can ensure they’re not sacrificing quality for savings.
“Think of it like buying a car,” Grady explained. “You still get the Ford, Chevy, or Toyota you want—you’re just getting the same quality vehicle at a better price.”
This methodology has already been applied in diverse categories such as guard services, elevator maintenance, IT, and commodities, and is gaining traction in the public sector.
Growing Public Sector Adoption
Although adoption in government can be slower than in the private sector, Grady is seeing strong momentum.
- New contracts: Procurex is set to sign with the State of New York and State of Oregon.
- Federal experience: The company has delivered more than a decade of results through a long-standing contract with the Department of Defense.
- Scale: With over 50,000 events run and hundreds of billions in spend managed, Procurex has deep experience in both large and small procurements.
Public agencies such as the City of Tampa are now showing increasing interest, particularly as they face staff shortages, rising costs, and pressure to stretch tax dollars further.
The Value for Cooperatives and GPOs
When asked about the role of cooperatives and group purchasing organizations (GPOs), Grady emphasized their potential when executed well:
“Done right, GPOs and cooperatives can drive efficiency, reduce costs, and create real value for members. The key is thoughtful execution and upfront work to ensure contracts are built around quality outcomes—not just lowest cost.”
Procurex’s supplier-pay model, where they are compensated only when results are delivered, aligns incentives across buyers, suppliers, and the Procurex team.
Looking Ahead: Opportunities in the Public Sector
The conversation concluded with a look at where holistic procurement could make the greatest impact:
- Sanitation and fleet (street sweepers, buses, vehicles)
- School and municipal transportation (from diesel to electric vehicles)
- Large-scale service contracts
- Education and municipal operations support
Link noted, “The public sector is a huge opportunity for Procurex, and I hope that one day Edge Public and Procurex are partners in helping agencies achieve more.”
Final Thoughts
With its focus on holistic value, deep procurement expertise, and proven track record, Procurex is carving out a strong role in the evolving public procurement landscape. For agencies facing the dual challenges of staffing shortages and rising costs, approaches like holistic pricing events may soon become essential tools to maximize efficiency while maintaining quality.
Key Takeaways from Edge Public’s Conversation with Procurex
- Extension of staff: Procurex supports procurement departments with expertise, tools, and event management to do more with less.
- Holistic Pricing Events: A smarter alternative to reverse auctions—evaluating total value (quality, service, and price) rather than just lowest bid.
- Proven scale: Over 50,000 events and hundreds of billions in spend managed, including long-standing federal contracts.
- Public sector adoption is growing: Cities like Tampa and states including New York and Oregon are embracing Procurex’s approach.
- Future opportunities: High-impact categories include fleet, sanitation, school transportation, and large service contracts.
