Cooperative Purchasing Toolkit

Practical Procurement Resources for School District Leaders

Purchasing is one of the most important functions a public school district performs. Districts need goods and services year-round to provide the best, most effective, and efficient educational tools and settings for staff and students.

Additionally, public schools need the best price for goods and services without compromising quality, while maintaining compliance with state procurement rules.

While there are many subcategories of purchasing, there are three main types of purchasing on which districts can rely: traditional purchasing, traditional cooperative purchasing, and sole-source purchasing.

Traditional purchasing or competitive bid purchasing in education refers to a model where individual districts handle their own procurement processes independently. Historically the first approach established for educational procurement, this model typically involves working directly with vendors and making purchasing decisions at the district or departmental level. Districts using this method maintain full autonomy over every step, from choosing suppliers to finalizing contract terms. While this independence can be valuable, it often means missing out on the advantages offered by cooperative purchasing methods.

The purpose of this toolkit is to:

1. Distinguish between the purchasing methods of procurement
2. Explain why it is essential for districts to adopt a cooperative purchasing method as their primary procurement process.
3. Provide practical resources for the cooperative purchasing method

What's Included?

• Infographics & Guides
• Customizable Templates
• Videos & Testimonials
• Frameworks & Roadmaps
• Proven Strategies & Expert Tips

and more!