Modernizing Procurement for Better Government
The Model Procurement Code - Durable but Dated
For nearly 50 years, the American Bar Association’s Model Procurement Code (MPC) for State and Local Governments has endured as the benchmark framework guiding how state and local governments spend public money ethically, fairly, and to good effect for residents. When it was first drafted in 1979, the MPC was widely seen as a major reform, bringing consistency, transparency, and accountability to a fragmented and often opaque system of public purchasing. Since then, more than 20 states and hundreds of local governments have adopted some or all of the model code.
The Model Procurement Code Revision Project is a nonpartisan effort to bring together public procurement experts to consider how the model code might be updated to fit today’s evolving needs. The goal: to ensure that governments have modern tools to work efficiently, effectively, and make the best use of taxpayer dollars. The project is a collaborative effort between the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section, the National Association of State Procurement Officials, and Partners for Public Good.
Eric Whytsell — Chair, Model Procurement Code Revision Project Steering Committee
Modernizing the Model Procurement Code means more than rewriting rules — it’s about strengthening trust, efficiency, and fairness in how state and local government does business.