General information about Vendors (ADD PDFs)
The Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative facilitates the bidding process for 150 public, private, and charter districts, colleges and universities. Thirty-nine bid categories, including four line item bids, are available throughout the year. Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative awards catalog bids, which allows for us to award multiple vendors. As a member of the Region 7 Purchasing Cooperative, you will have the flexibility to view all of our awarded vendors by commodity, company name, or bid category. You can deal directly with the vendor without sending a purchase order through us. This helps you know that you are getting the best pricing on your good/service.
Region 7 Approved Vendor List Search
Once on Region 7’s website: Click “ OK”, if you get a warning about the certificate, and you will be taken to Region 7 Purchasing Page.
Then Click on the “VENDOR SEARCH” and input the vendor’s name. Include the Vendor’s Contract Information on your requisitions as a separate descriptive item/line. (Ex: vendor is Office Depot: Description line should read Region VII Contract #GOSF1718.)
You should be able to find the Co-Op expiration date there.
All purchases will be made from approved vendors, when possible, regardless of price. If an item is more than $3,500, three (3) quotes must be obtained (phone, online website, vendor catalog, etc.). Attach screenshots for online quotes or copies of catalog pages for backup. List all vendors on the form, even if they cannot provide the item. If using federal funds, you MUST go with the lowest cost. When NOT using federal funds and vendor selected does not offer the lowest cost, a full explanation shall be provided. Use additional pages, if necessary.
Buy Board
Buy Board Vendor List
The Local Government Purchasing Cooperative was created to increase the purchasing power of government entities and to simplify their purchasing by using a customized online purchasing system, called the Buy Board.
PACE Purchasing Cooperative Tutorial
The Purchasing Association of Cooperative Entities (PACE) is designed to give its members additional awarded contract tools to assist their entities in meeting bidding requirements, saving valuable staff resources. PACE finds vendors to assist members in meeting their operation goals and save funds when obtaining best value supplies.
The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS/TAPS) is sponsored by the Region VIII Education Service Center, and is governed by the Region 8 ESC Board of Directors. The Interlocal Purchasing System is available for use by all public and private schools, colleges, universities, cities, counties and other governmental entities. All awarded contracts through the TIPS/TAPS program have been awarded under the Competitively Bid Process and received a Contract from TIPS/TAPS Governing Board of Directors. These Awarded Vendors have agreed to provide the best pricing, terms and conditions available to TIPS/TAPS Members.
TCPN is a national governmental purchasing cooperative able to leverage the purchasing potential of governmental entities in all 50 states - this means equal pricing for the smallest entity and the largest buyer. TCPN competitively bids and awards contracts to national vendors in accordance with purchasing procedures mandated by state procurement laws and regulations. TCPN contracts are available for use, and benefit, public and private schools, colleges and universities, cities, counties, non-profits and all governmental entities.
U.S. Communities is a nonprofit government purchasing cooperative that reduces the cost of goods and services for participating agencies by aggregating their purchasing power nationwide. Lead public agencies competitively solicit contracts which U.S. Communities makes available to agencies and nonprofits nationwide.
Region 19 – Allied State Cooperative
The ESC-Region 19 Purchasing (Allied States Cooperative) is a national governmental purchasing cooperative which competitively bids and awards contracts to local, regional, and national vendors in compliance with local, state, and federal procurement laws and regulations. The ESC-Region 19 Purchasing (Allied States Cooperative) contracts are available to public schools, charter school, private schools, community colleges, universities, cities, counties, other governmental agencies, and nonprofits.
Texas Comptroller Statewide Procurement Division/TxSmartBuy
Created by legislation in 1979, the Texas Procurement and Support Services Cooperative Purchasing Program (State of Texas CO-OP) provides the State of Texas volume purchasing power to local governments and assistance organizations. Members can purchase goods and services from state term contracts, TXMAS contracts, and piggyback contracts. Using these services through the State of Texas CO-OP will meet your competitive bidding requirements.