Ohio’s Cooperative Purchasing Program grows at record pace
-- GSD Office of Procurement Services, November 2004

Ohio’s Cooperative Purchasing Program has posted record enrollment for the first quarter of this fiscal year following its best year ever. The latest numbers show 1,304 local governments and school districts signing up in July, August and September compared to 1,713 new members for all of fiscal last year.

Created in 1985 and operated by DAS, the program saves members time and money by making it possible to buy everything from computers to heavy machinery at volume discounts under state contracts. Members purchased some $265 million in products and services during the previous fiscal year saving 10 to 40 percent on each transaction.

Cooperative Purchasing membership is open to counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, libraries, regional transit authorities and park districts. Enrollment has grown 48 percent in the past five years. The program has members in all 88 Ohio counties.

Annual membership fees range from $110 to $525 and have not increased since 1998. Fees for schools and libraries have been rolled back because of enrollment gains among them. Organizations must pass enabling legislation to join the program and report their contract usage quarterly. Additional information, including a model ordinance for enrollment, is available at das.ohio.gov/coop_purchasing.