Benefits of Cooperative Purchasing

Cooperative purchasing provides resources and solutions to local and state government agencies in Arizona seeking the best overall government pricing. In accordance with state procurement laws and regulations, contracts are competitively solicited and allow participating agencies to avoid the bid process, saving valuable time and resources by lowering the effort and cost associated with traditional procurement. Cost-saving purchasing cooperatives benefit agencies and institutions by exposing them to quick and efficient sources to procure supplies and services by leveraging the volume of participating agencies from across the country.

The use of a cooperative ultimately reduces the total acquisition cost through economies of a scale. There are no fees to participate and no purchasing minimums, allowing maximum flexibility for participating agencies.

Cooperative Purchasing:

• Reduces the administrative burden saving valuable time and resources
• Utilizes nationally leveraged pricing from the most competitive contracts
• Is available at no cost to participating agencies
• Quickly and efficiently sources and procures supplies and services
• Reduces the total acquisition cost through economies of scale
• Places purchasing power in the hands of agencies
• Benefits suppliers by reducing the need to respond to multiple bids and solicitations from individual institutions and pay a minimum administrative fee to participate
• Provides access to lower pricing on higher quality items ensuring that agencies are offered the best government pricing
• Contracts are non-exclusive and discretionary, so an agency can choose to use any contract that is in their best interest

Contributed by U.S. Communities, a League Endorsed Partner
U.S. Communities is the leading national cooperative purchasing program, providing world-class government procurement resources and solutions to local and state government agencies, school districts K-12), higher education institutions and nonprofits. Enrolling in U.S. Communities means that you can receive vital program support and resources at a cost your budget can bear. There is no cost or fee to use the program and you have access to lowest available government pricing. It is more than just good pricing, cooperative purchasing can also deliver significant time efficiencies when every second counts. By utilizing a lead public agency model, the costs of preparing a bid and managing a contract, the costs can be significantly reduced, or avoided. To learn more about U.S. Communities visit www.uscommunities.org.