Page 16 - The EDGE Winter 2024 WEB

PROCUREMENT

BY BILL MUNCH, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
Basics of Co-op Contracts for Vendors

Bill Munch

Happy New Year! Well, here it is 2024 already. As utilize, a vendor would have to respond to a bid
I reflect back on my 30-plus years with AASBO, I or RFP issued by the cooperative and be awarded
look forward to serving on the Ambassador Group a contract. Being "registered" does NOT mean a
headed up by Erik Hackenschmidt, Membership vendor has a contract. The only way to achieve a
Director on the AASBO Board. cooperative contract is to respond to a bid or RFP
and be one of the lucky vendors awarded a contract.
We will work with new members, including our
Business Associate Members. Our committee will How does a vendor know when the next bid or RFP
welcome new members and work with them to help will be issued so you can be prepared to respond? It
them take full advantage of all that membership has takes some homework and research. Go back to each
to offer. If you are interested with helping on this individual cooperative and ask them if they have a
committee, please contact Erik. contract for the goods or services you provide. Then
ask when their current contract is expiring and when
As past Vendor Representative on the AASBO Board,
they might be rebidding that current contract. Most
I am excited to serve on the Ambassador Group and
contracts run for up to a 5-year period. So it really
formalizing what I've been trying to accomplish
depends on where they are at with their current
for AASBO for many years informally! The rest
contract as to how long that waiting period could be.
of this article will concentrate on information for
those vendors new to Arizona School District Hope you find this basic information helpful and that
procurement. all your procurement dreams may come true. Feel
free to reach out to me via email with any questions.
So, I was recently asked by a brand new vendor
how to obtain a co-op contract. He told me that
he registered with three different cooperatives and
Bill Munch, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, is the Procurement
believed that now he had a contract with them. I
Compliance and Training Officer for Valley Schools
explained those registrations only put a vendor on
Management Group and serves as a Chapter Ambassador
a list to receive notifications of bids or RFP's that
for the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing
may be issued by a cooperative in the future. These
(NIGP). He may be reached at: bmunch@vsit.org
registrations are NOT contract awards.

In order to receive a contract award from a
cooperative that a school district could potentially

“The only way to achieve a cooperative contract is to respond to
a bid or RFP and be one of the lucky vendors awarded a contract.”

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16 THE EDGE WINTER 2024