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U.S. Communities

Cooperative purchasing is not a new concept. For centuries, organizations like those of maaps members have aggregated their demand in order to get lower prices, better quality and service improvements on the goods and services they need. Local government agencies also banded together to procure commodities that they commonly used. However, most of these cooperatives were regionally based and/or offered a limited number of items.
 
In 1999, recognizing the need for a broader offering for local governments that still met state procurement laws across the country, several state associations started U.S. Communities. These associations included the California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities, the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National League of Cities (NLC), the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO), the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM).

U.S. Communities now is available for maaps members. Now you can take advantage of the pooled purchasing power and bulk volume discounts.
 
The process to get started is simple:
  1. Register with U.S. Communities (no cost – no obligation), so your personnel can access the U.S. Communities website where vendors, products and prices are available for review. Registration with U.S. Communities (which you can do online at their website at (www.uscommunities.org) is to ensure that you are provided the Master Intergovernmental Co-Operative Purchasing Agreement. This is necessary for your records. Registration does not obligate you to purchase through the program, but it does introduce you to a wide-range of products at outstanding prices.
  2. Compare the U.S. Communities contracts with the contracts you currently have in place.
  3. Go online to request contact from a U.S. Communities vendor. That vendor’s local rep will contact you to review their offering and bid prices.
  4. Decide whether to execute an order with the U.S. Communities supplier of your choice.
 
Key Advantages
  • Savings
    • Most favorable government pricing
    • No user fees
    • Contracts authorize volume discounts
  • Competitively Solicited
    • All contracts are competitively solicited government contracts and non-exclusive
  • Aggregate Purchasing Power
    • Combines potential purchasing power of up to 90,000 local agencies
    • Expands purchasing choices beyond state boundaries
    • Currently over 36,000 participating public agencies in 50 states
  • No cost to participants
  • No obligation, all contracts are non-binding and non-exclusive
  • No minimum orders, buy as much or as little as you like
 
Products Available
  • Auto Parts and Accessories
  • Education Furniture
  • Electrical Products
  • Elevator Maintenance and Services
  • Equipment and Tool Rental Services
  • Homeland Security and Public Safety
  • Maintenance and Hardware Supplies
  • Office Furniture
  • Office Machines
  • P.E. Supplies
  • Park and Playground
  • Roofing Supplies and Services
  • Science/Labware Supplies
  • Synthetic Turf & other Athletic Surfaces
  • Technology Products and Solutions
  • Telecommunications Supplies
For further information regarding this partnership contact Alexis Turner at U.S. Communities by email at aturner@uscommunities.org or visit the US Communities website at http:/www.uscommunities.org.

 


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