Inland Empire Health Plan earns second Excellence in Procurement recognition
The Floridant/10312497

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., July 31, 2025 ~ Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) has once again been recognized for its excellence in procurement. The National Procurement Institute, Inc. (NPI) has awarded IEHP with the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® Award for the second year in a row.

Out of 216 organizations across the nation, IEHP is one of only 2025 recipients to receive this prestigious designation. It is also the only health plan to be named on NPI's list this year. This recognition is a testament to IEHP's commitment to adopting technology and improving efficiency and collaboration with its external vendor network.

Cita Hendricks, IEHP's Director of Procurement, expressed her gratitude for the award and highlighted the importance of partnerships between IEHP and its vendors. "Our department runs as a partnership between IEHP and our vendors and those we support," said Hendricks. "We consult, give advice and feedback, and that makes our partnerships more collaborative-driven."

The consideration process for this award also involved surveying vendors who work with IEHP. The questions focused on the organization's professionalism in establishing a collaborative experience with its vendors. Shawn Marie Cox, IEHP's Manager of Procurement, praised her team for their hard work and dedication in achieving this recognition. "The team worked really hard on this and is proud of their accomplishments," said Cox. "Results show we are leading the pack and taking our procurement process to another level."

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NPI established the Achievement in Excellence in Procurement program in 1995 to recognize agencies for their organizational excellence in public procurement. To be eligible for this award, organizations must meet criteria that measure innovation, professionalism, and productivity.

Carrie Mathes, NPI AEP Officer, commended IEHP for their continued recognition through this award. "IEHP's continued recognition through the Achievement in Excellence in Procurement® Award demonstrates their strong leadership in public procurement and unwavering dedication to innovation and continuous improvement," said Mathes. "Achieving this distinction for a second year is a testament to the agency's commitment to operational excellence and its positive impact on the communities it serves."

The 2025 awardees, including IEHP, will be honored at NPI's annual conference in Orlando, Florida on October 5-8. Other local agencies that have also been named on the list include Cal State San Bernardino, the City of Redlands, and the Ontario International Airport Authority. To learn more about this award, visit www.npi-aep.org.

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