Simplify Purchasing for Your Facility

Finding the right products and equipment for your facility can seem like a difficult job, but it doesn't need to be. Services are available to help purchasing agencies with procurement, saving time and money.

Q: What can we do to simplify the purchasing process for our facility?

A: To make your procurement process more efficient, you should consider joining a purchasing cooperative. Purchasing cooperatives are able to leverage public-sector demand for products in order to deliver more competitive prices, while also reducing the total cost of acquisition. You can find opportunities for everything from supplies and furnishings to technology, play equipment, sports equipment and more.

Becoming a member of a purchasing cooperative enables you to achieve product savings as you take advantage of more efficient and cost-effective purchasing methodologies. Because the cooperative works to find commonly needed commodities and services, and then advocates for fair terms and conditions, work is minimized on your end, and costs are reduced through better scaling of procurement procedures. That means you can make purchases quickly from trusted and vetted suppliers without having to go to bid.

Q: What do we have to do to join a purchasing cooperative?

A: Free memberships are available to school districts, colleges, universities, cities, counties, special districts and nonprofits. Vendors pay a transaction fee when they get orders from members, covering the cost of operations. This fee has little impact on the prices you pay for products and services, due to economies of scale.

To get started, simply sign your organization up, then wait for the cooperative to vet your agency to be sure your application is legitimate. Once your application is accepted, you and others from your agency will be able to use the cooperative to make purchases for your facility.