Hidalgo County purchasing department honored with national procurement award

Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday honored the county's purchasing department after the National Procurement Institute named it a recipient of the 2026 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award.

"This international award is earned only by public agencies that demonstrate the highest tier of innovation, professionalism, productivity, and leadership," Purchasing Director Ignacio Mescu told the court as he accepted the proclamation and credited the department's staff by name. He asked staff and commissioners to join for a brief photo after the presentation.

The proclamation cited the institute's review of 269 applications and recognized Hidalgo County for meeting rigorous evaluation criteria. Commissioners moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote; the court later voted on multiple procurement items during the session.

Mescu also outlined pending purchases and procurement actions handled by his office, including approval earlier in the meeting to buy a 2023 Freightliner grapple truck for $127,000 and to proceed with work authorizations tied to local improvement projects.

The recognition and related procurement approvals underscore the county's emphasis on centralized purchasing and contracting oversight. The court did not revise the proclamation language during the session; motions to approve carried unanimously where recorded.

Sources: remarks and presentation in open session by Purchasing Director Ignacio Mescu and the county's proclamation reading.