What differentiates the U.S. Communities Cooperative Purchasing Alliance from other cooperative programs? This is a question that has been asked more than once to NIGP staff and members and one that we are always glad to answer. U.S. Communities is the only cooperative purchasing program co-founded and sponsored by NIGP along with four national sponsors, the National Association of Counties (NAC0), the National League of Cities (NLC), the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the Association of School Business International. The five national sponsors govern the program and oversee the activities and contracts within the program. The program was created in 1998 out of a need to have large-scale commodities contracts to offer to local and state agencies on a national basis, U.S. Communities was designed to provide a program that was completely voluntary, had no minimum purchase requirements, and had no cost to participate. The goal was to make it accessible to as many of nearly 90,000 units of local and state governments in the United States. Competitively Solicited Contracts Each contract offered by U.S. Communities has been competitively bid by a lead local government entity (lead public agency) and each supplier has committed to offer their most competitive government pricing to all participating agencies. Each lead public agency takes responsibility for structuring the bid documents, assembling a national team of experts to review responses, documenting the bid tallies and awarding the contract to one or more qualified firms. A master interlocal government agreement provides access to each of these contracts to public agencies across the country. All contracts are reviewed by the lead public agency on a quarterly basis in with the awarded suppliers. Advisory Board of Public Procurement Professionals Ensuring that the program meets the highest procurement standards, the U.S. Communities program is monitored by an Advisory Board of 22 public purchasing professionals representing cities, counties, schools, higher education and state government. Each member serves a three-year term. Each appointed member must have the authorization of its public jurisdiction to serve. Contract Audits U.S. Communities provides internal and third-party audits of the program contracts. Each year, contracts are audited by a third-party independent audit firm for compliance with contract pricing, terms and conditions. Third party audits provide a credible verification system. All audits are posted on the U.S. Communities website for participating public agencies. Benchmarking U.S. Communities uses benchmarking to validate its best pricing guarantee. Benchmarking is done against another large contract held by a U.S. Communities supplier, against a contract held by a competitor of a U.S. Communities supplier, against results of a bid process, and against retail pricing in the marketplace. In 2009 19 of 21 contracts had benchmarks performed, showing overall savings from 7.5% to 18.5% for program contracts. All U.S. Communities contracts are offered without fees or costs to participating public agencies and non-profit organizations. Registration is free and public agencies are not required to commit to minimum amounts of purchasing. Agencies can use the program as frequently or as little as they desire. Since 2001, the program has documented public agency savings of more than $1.6 billion. As of January 2011, more than 44,000 public agencies have registered for the program, more than 24,000 agencies use at least once contract every quarter and more than 35% of using agencies use two or more contracts every quarter. U.S. Communities is NIGP’s preferred cooperative purchasing program and NIGP’s partner in providing purchasing solutions to public purchasing officials. NIGP recognizes the value of cooperative purchasing and the many local, regional and national programs that exist to provide public agencies with good pricing and service. Many of these programs are important tools for public agency use. NIGP will continue to use the U.S. Communities platform to drive innovation, best practices and competitive pricing through collective action by its public procurement professionals.
What differentiates the U.S. Communities Cooperative Purchasing Alliance from other cooperative programs? This is a question that has been asked more than once to NIGP staff and members and one that we are always glad to answer.
U.S. Communities is the only cooperative purchasing program co-founded and sponsored by NIGP along with four national sponsors, the National Association of Counties (NAC0), the National League of Cities (NLC), the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the Association of School Business International. The five national sponsors govern the program and oversee the activities and contracts within the program.
The program was created in 1998 out of a need to have large-scale commodities contracts to offer to local and state agencies on a national basis, U.S. Communities was designed to provide a program that was completely voluntary, had no minimum purchase requirements, and had no cost to participate. The goal was to make it accessible to as many of nearly 90,000 units of local and state governments in the United States.
Competitively Solicited Contracts
Each contract offered by U.S. Communities has been competitively bid by a lead local government entity (lead public agency) and each supplier has committed to offer their most competitive government pricing to all participating agencies. Each lead public agency takes responsibility for structuring the bid documents, assembling a national team of experts to review responses, documenting the bid tallies and awarding the contract to one or more qualified firms. A master interlocal government agreement provides access to each of these contracts to public agencies across the country. All contracts are reviewed by the lead public agency on a quarterly basis in with the awarded suppliers.
Advisory Board of Public Procurement Professionals
Ensuring that the program meets the highest procurement standards, the U.S. Communities program is monitored by an Advisory Board of 22 public purchasing professionals representing cities, counties, schools, higher education and state government. Each member serves a three-year term. Each appointed member must have the authorization of its public jurisdiction to serve.
Contract Audits
U.S. Communities provides internal and third-party audits of the program contracts. Each year, contracts are audited by a third-party independent audit firm for compliance with contract pricing, terms and conditions. Third party audits provide a credible verification system. All audits are posted on the U.S. Communities website for participating public agencies.
Benchmarking
U.S. Communities uses benchmarking to validate its best pricing guarantee. Benchmarking is done against another large contract held by a U.S. Communities supplier, against a contract held by a competitor of a U.S. Communities supplier, against results of a bid process, and against retail pricing in the marketplace. In 2009 19 of 21 contracts had benchmarks performed, showing overall savings from 7.5% to 18.5% for program contracts.
All U.S. Communities contracts are offered without fees or costs to participating public agencies and non-profit organizations. Registration is free and public agencies are not required to commit to minimum amounts of purchasing. Agencies can use the program as frequently or as little as they desire. Since 2001, the program has documented public agency savings of more than $1.6 billion. As of January 2011, more than 44,000 public agencies have registered for the program, more than 24,000 agencies use at least once contract every quarter and more than 35% of using agencies use two or more contracts every quarter.
U.S. Communities is NIGP’s preferred cooperative purchasing program and NIGP’s partner in providing purchasing solutions to public purchasing officials. NIGP recognizes the value of cooperative purchasing and the many local, regional and national programs that exist to provide public agencies with good pricing and service. Many of these programs are important tools for public agency use. NIGP will continue to use the U.S. Communities platform to drive innovation, best practices and competitive pricing through collective action by its public procurement professionals.
What they say: "I have and would recommend U.S. Communities to other public entities." Cathy Muse, Department of Purchasing and Supply Management Director, Fairfax County, VA more testimonials
What they say:
"I have and would recommend U.S. Communities to other public entities."
Cathy Muse, Department of Purchasing and Supply Management Director, Fairfax County, VA
more testimonials