Cooperative Purchasing
What is Cooperative Purchasing?
Cooperative purchasing is when public entities have the ability to select the equipment, turnkey solution requirements, and services needed while satisfying the public bidding process. We work closely with entities such as OMNIA, Sourcewell, and TIPS to ensure that our public sector customers are aware of their options and suited for success.
This includes the prioritization of:
- Quality Assurance
- Compliance with Legal Standards
- Access to a Diverse Range of Expert Support
- And More!
Group Purchasing Organizations We Partner With
How Cooperative Purchasing Transforms Project Timelines
Public Projects Without This Tool
What is experienced:
- Lack of Single-Source Responsibility
- 2-6 Month Process
- Multi-Stakeholder Discussions
- Hidden Soft Costs
Public Projects With This Method
What is experienced:
- Single-Source Responsibility
- Shortened Timeline
- Flexibility
- High-Quality Contract & Team
- Assistance for Utility Incentive Programs such as Comed and Nicor Rebates
Who Can Use Cooperative Purchasing?
Group purchasing is accessible to a wide variety of public entities who want procurement that satisfies the public bid requirement with a shorter timeline. Groups who can utilize this method include:
- K-12 Schools: Optimize budgets, manage compliance, and tailor timelines.
- Higher Education Institutions: Customize solutions to meet large facility needs, remain flexible for necessary deadlines, and be in control of strategic goals.
- State and Local Governments: Reduce administrative burden for staff and improve responsiveness to meet project deadlines.
- And More!
Want to know more about the benefits of this procurement method?
How Does Cooperative Purchasing Work?
- Identify Your Needs: Define what you need to buy and what your procurement goals are.
- Choose a Cooperative: Locate a group purchasing organization like OMINA Partners, Sourcewell, or TIPS.
- Register to Join: Membership is often free. Any government or education entity can quickly register and participate with no obligations.
- Find a Contract: Search through contracts by product type, state, or county.
- Contact the Supplier: Once a contract is located, you can finalize the sale with the supplier or your local dealer using the contract details.
To learn more about the process of cooperative purchasing, explore these resources from our procurement partners.
State Statutes That Support HVAC Group Purchasing Solutions
The following state statutes give public entities the ability to utilize this type of purchasing process:
Daikin Applied Contracts With Group Purchasing Organizations
Daikin Applied is an approved vendor with active contracts through OMNIA Partners, Sourcewell and TIPS. This allows government and public entities registered with these organizations to access solicited contracts with a variety of Daikin technology solutions. Documents for these contracts can be found on the following websites:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cooperative purchasing?
Cooperative purchasing is a procurement method in which public entities buy equipment, turnkey solutions, and related services through contracts that have already been competitively solicited and awarded by a cooperative organization. By using these contracts, agencies satisfy competitive bidding requirements while streamlining purchasing and eliminating the need to run their own RFP process.
Why is cooperative purchasing beneficial for public entities?
Cooperative purchasing saves time, reduces administrative burden, maximizes the benefits of collective buying power, and allows entities to focus on their core priorities. Learn more about the benefits here.
Who is eligible for cooperative purchasing?
Many public and nonprofit organizations are eligible to use group purchasing. This includes K-12 schools, higher education, healthcare facilities, local/state governments, and many more.
Is cooperative purchasing allowed under state and local law?
Yes, states have statutes in place to allow cooperative purchasing to occur legally. Read more here.
Do you have local stock or is everything shipped from the factory?
No, membership is free for public organizations, giving them full access to cooperative purchasing contracts at no cost.
Does the cooperative contract allow turnkey HVAC solutions (design‑build, install, ongoing maintenance)?
Yes, public entities can obtain turnkey solutions through cooperative purchasing.