Professional Role and Responsibilities
Anita Higgins serves as the Procurement Manager – Goods & Services at the City of Columbia, South Carolina, with over 18 years of experience in organizational procurement and contract management. Her role involves assisting various city departments with procurement processes, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with municipal purchasing guidelines. She is a Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB).
Her current position includes responsibility for the acquisition of goods and supplies necessary for city operations, which likely encompasses procurement activities related to the Municipality’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operations and waste management, given the City’s infrastructure and procurement scope.
Contact Information
- Email: [Anita.Higgins@columbiasc.gov](mailto:Anita.Higgins@columbiasc.gov)
- Phone: (803) 545-4359
- Office Location: Department of Procurement & Contracts, 1800 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201
- Web Presence: [LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/higgins-anita-4b593616) and [City of Columbia Procurement Website](https://procurement.columbiasc.gov)
Department and Organizational Context
Anita operates within the City of Columbia’s Department of Procurement and Contracts, which handles routine to complex purchasing activities, including those related to Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and disaster recovery procurement processes. The department actively supports minority business opportunities and community engagement initiatives, suggesting a procurement environment aligned with inclusivity and regulatory compliance.
The procurement department's mission includes comprehensive oversight of goods and services acquisition across city departments, coordinating with buyers and procurement staff such as Kimberly Brown and LaToyia Davis.
Experience and Expertise
- Extensive procurement expertise spanning nearly two decades, specializing in organizational procurement, contract management, and compliance.
- Skilled in managing complex municipal procurement needs, providing guidance on procurement and contract-related matters city-wide.
- Experienced in managing procurement activities associated with federal grant funding, such as CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT programs, which require strict adherence to federal and local procurement guidelines.
- Demonstrates proactive support for departments requiring procurement assistance with flexible and adaptable procurement solutions.
Relevance to Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Operations
While Anita’s direct experience information related specifically to MRF operations is not explicitly documented, her managerial role over goods and services procurement for the City of Columbia implicates her involvement in sourcing materials, services, and contracts that support city infrastructure projects, including waste management and recycling initiatives. The City of Columbia maintains active programs targeting municipal solid waste reduction, and procurement leadership would be central in facilitating the operational supply chain for these efforts.
Professional Network and Industry Position
- Listed within the South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO), positioning Anita within a professional network committed to public procurement excellence.
- Reported participation in City directories and minority business opportunity initiatives, indicating an alignment with civic and economic development priorities.
- Positioned as a key procurement contact in official City of Columbia documentation and procurement guides, highlighting her role as a primary liaison for vendor relations and procurement inquiries.
Operational Environment and Procurement Context
The department under which Anita operates manages complex procurement regulation environments, including grants management, disaster recovery programs, minority business opportunities, and commodity sourcing. The City of Columbia’s procurement department provides critical support for compliance with funding regulations and operational efficiency, which are pivotal in public sector procurement cycles.
The department's responsibility for a diverse range of goods and services procurement amidst municipal sustainability initiatives suggests Anita’s familiarity with vendor management, contractual negotiations, and procurement strategies aligned with municipal waste management goals.
This profile consolidates key data points relevant to Anita Higgins’s professional capacity as Procurement Manager for the City of Columbia, emphasizing her extensive procurement expertise, role in municipal purchasing activities, and position within a regulatory and community-focused operational framework.
