Cooperative Purchasing
The sharing of contracts between government entities to increase purchasing efficiency and leverage volume discounts.
Overview
Cooperative Purchasing is a procurement strategy where multiple government entities share access to competitively awarded contracts, enabling them to leverage collective buying power and reduce administrative costs. One entity conducts the competitive solicitation, and the resulting contract is made available to other participating jurisdictions under agreed terms.
Why It Matters in GovCon
Cooperative purchasing dramatically expands the reach of a single contract award. For contractors, winning a cooperative contract with one agency can unlock sales to hundreds or thousands of additional government entities without separate competitive procurements at each location.
Key Details
- GSA Cooperative Purchasing: GSA Schedule contracts are available to state and local governments for certain categories under cooperative purchasing authority.
- Lead Agency: One government entity conducts the competitive solicitation on behalf of all participants.
- Legal Authority: Each participating entity must have legal authority under their state or local procurement laws to use cooperative contracts.
- Major Programs: Sourcewell, OMNIA Partners, NCPA, and NASPO ValuePoint are leading cooperative purchasing organizations.
- Piggyback Clauses: Contracts must include language specifically authorizing use by other entities.
How GovCon Data Can Help
GovCon Data aggregates cooperative purchasing opportunities alongside traditional solicitations, giving contractors visibility into contracts that serve multiple government buyers.
Related Terms
- Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)
- National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA)
- GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
- SLED (State, Local, and Education)
More Contracts Terms
A simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services by establishing charge accounts with qualified vendors.
A numbered item in a contract that identifies a specific deliverable, service, or unit of work along with its quantity and price.
A contract type where the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit.
An order placed against an existing contract for the delivery of supplies or materials.
A contract type where the price is set at award and does not change regardless of the contractor's actual costs, placing maximum risk on the contractor.
Long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms that provide federal agencies access to products and services at pre-negotiated prices.
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