Municipal procurement can be a drawn-out, time-consuming process of researching products, writing specifications, opening bids and then evaluating those bids. All these steps require extra time, money and effort that could be spent on other projects and which complicate a simple task (say, buying a new sewer camera) with red-tape. Using cooperative purchasing contracts can take the hassle out of procuring equipment and provide additional benefits that may not be available through the bidding process.
While the process of writing up a specification and taking bids does have its upsides, many factors outweigh those limited benefits. Often, municipalities prefer cooperative contracts because they recognize that low-bid equipment can carry hidden costs, forcing communities with limited resources to settle for a poorly suited product.
Click below to learn how to take advantage of cooperative purchasing and make getting the equipment you need faster and easier.