The VIII Annual Conference of the Americas on Government Procurement also was the venue for the presentation of the third edition of the Joseph Francois Robert Marcello Leadership Award on Public Procurement. 

Jorge Luis Gonzales, ex-president of the INGP and winner of the first edition in 2010 presented the award to Javier Davila, Manager of the Unit on Public Procurement Policies of Mexico, based on the following criteria: Creation of knowledge Political management Long-term vision Innovation Cooperation with other countries.  

The award winner of the 2012 Leadership Award on Public Procurement will receive a scholarship consisting of an internship with expenses paid of up to $5,000 to research on a topic of interest involving public procurement and to attend an intensive course, or visiting a country prominent on the topic of procurement.

The nominees to the 2012 award edition were: 

• Patricia Navarro of Costa Rica. 
• Carlos Oviedo of El Salvador. 
•  Dalberg Claude of Haiti. 
•  Cecile Maragh of Jamaica. 
•  Javier Dávila of México. 
•  Eldis Sánchez of Panamá. 
•  Magali Rojas of Perú. 
•  Adrián Manera of Uruguay.