Cooperative Purchasing Program
offers free membership
-- GSD Office of Procurement Services, July 2005

A program that pools the buying power of state and local governments is offering free membership and simplified reporting through a pilot project to attract more members this fiscal year.

DAS is waiving annual membership fees of $110 to $525 for the Cooperative Purchasing Program for any participant that submits accurate quarterly reports of the items it has purchased. The program also has streamlined reporting by giving members the new option of submitting information online.

"The pilot program will provide DAS with a better idea of the volume of supplies and services officials are buying at the local level," DAS Director Scott Johnson said. "If we can combine more detailed local data with state agencies' purchasing data, the State of Ohio may possibly be in the position to negotiate larger discounts for our members."

The Cooperative Purchasing Program was created in 1991 with an initial membership of 515 organizations. It has grown steadily since then to 1,156 members at the beginning of the Taft administration in fiscal year 1999 and a record enrollment of 1,726 members during fiscal year 2005. Local governments, school districts and libraries throughout Ohio are eligible to join the program and purchase everything from vehicles to office supplies at the same discount prices negotiated by DAS on behalf of state agencies.

Organizations must enact enabling legislation to join the program. A model ordinance for enrollment is available on the Web at www.gsd.das.state.oh.us/Coop/ods.htm. For more information, please contact the Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program at (614) 644-8495.