Program Descriptions
May 11, 2006
Coop Main Buy:
Nebraska ESU Cooperative Purchasing coordinates mass
purchases on behalf of educational service units, public schools,
and state colleges in Nebraska. The objective of this effort
is to obtain the best quality merchandise for the lowest possible
price in order to conserve tax revenue.
Bids are sent to vendors nation-wide in December. Awards are
announced in February, and catalogs, with over 1,800 items, are
distributed to all schools in March. The orders are then sent
to vendors in may and the merchandise is delivered to the ESUs and
schools during July and August. In 2003 over $3,700,000 in
merchandise was purchased by ESU affiliated schools through the
Coop Annual Buy.
The product categories offered are as follows: Equipment and
Related Supplies, General Supplies, Furniture, Paper, Maintenance
& Shop Supplies, Health & Safety, Athletics, Hot Lunch,
Science, and Art Supplies.
Food Program:
The prime vendor food program, established in 1995,
provides food product to ESU affiliated schools state-wide.
The agreement with the prime vendor is for 3 years, with the
schools committing to the program on a yearly basis. The
prime vendor offers his "full house" to the schools at
prices established through a rigorous bid process. All
merchandise is ordered, delivered and billed directly to the
schools. Reporting, monitoring, evaluating, and providing
supplemental services are the responsibility of Nebraska ESU
Cooperative Purchasing.
In the 2002-2003 school year, 142 school lunch programs
participated by committing 3.5 million dollars to the program.
The participating schools purchased approximately 4.4 million
dollars in food product and saved approximately 5%-10%. The
range of savings is due to total purchases and the use of drop-site
incentives and early payment.
Custodial Program:
This program was originally developed to offer schools
the availability of custodial supplies and equipment during a seven
month purchase window. The program has since been extended to
offer schools these products year round with direct ordering,
delivery, and billing. Bids are taken by product line based
on the vendors' "full house". Two vendors are
selected through the bid process, each serving a predetermined
portion of the state. Product price lists are delivered from
each vendor to their respective schools prior to the beginning of
the program at the start of each year. School orders, direct
delivery, and billing are all handled by the vendor. Nebraska
ESU Cooperative Purchasing monitors sales and reports each school's
activity to the administration.
Total Purchases for 2005 were $1,413,485.84.
The prime vendors also offer in-service workshops and product shows
for custodians throughout the year.
Special Buys:
The term "Special Buys" is given to all
programs implemented by Nebraska ESU Cooperative Purchasing in
addition to the major cooperative buy. These purchase
opportunities are conducted during the current school budget year
to provide timely delivery of merchandise and/or specific brand
name products.
Some highlights of special buys offered in 2005 include:
1. The special buy on software from Software Plus
included Adobe Licenses, Microsoft Licenses, and Symantec
Licenses. This program resulted in total sales of
approximately $984,541.36. This program is extended into
2006.
2. There was a special buy on NovaNET software from Pearson
Digital Learning. This program resulted in $689,442.89 and
has been extended into 2006.
3. Fluorescent lamps, incandescent bulbs, & ballasts from
Voss Lighting resulted in $82,323.40. This program is
extended to 2006.
NE ESU Cooperative Purchasing is constantly striving to offer the
best and most beneficial programs for Nebraska schools. To
see all our current program, please visit our AEPA & Special Buys page to see what the Coop has
to offer for your school.
Association of Educational
Purchasing Agencies (AEPA):
The association of Educational Purchasing Agencies
(AEPA) is a group of Educational Service Agencies/political
subdivisions organized through Memorandum of Understanding between
all participating states for the purpose of securing combined
volume purchasing contracts based on potential sales by qualifying
customers in participating states. Of the many advantages to
this unique purchasing group, are the combined human resources
representing purchasing/bidding expertise, current and past vendor
relationships, past experience and overall vision with regard to
the needs of the qualified customers within each represented state.
Nebraska is a founding member of the AEPA, which started with
ten states in 2000 and now has grown to 21 states representing over
18 million students. The goals of the AEPA include:
* Leverage the purchasing power to benefit all schools
regardless of size, with the ability to purchase at equal buying
levels.
* Combine the potential needs of all schools to create an
incentive to vendors to offer the best price and the highest
quality product in the country.
* Stream line the bidding and purchasing process through a
single locally and nationally recognized legal purchasing
solicitation.
* Provide a single contract that is available statewide with
one cooperative agency identified to function as the statewide
contract facilitator and representative.
* Become the national purchasing option and solution for
interested qualified customers and vendors.
In 2005, Nebraska ESU Cooperative Purchasing participated in the
following AEPA Programs:
1. Carpeting
2. Cars/Trucks/Vans
3. Furniture
4. Portable Buildings
5. Roofing
6. Technology Buy & Printers/Cartridges
7. Office Products
8. Athletic Field, Track & Court Surfacing
9. Library Books
10. Athletic/Health Equipment & Supplies
11. Copiers
To learn more about the current AEPA programs offered, visit our
AEPA & Special Buys page to see what products and services
are offered year-round at discounted prices that can benefit your
school.
