Academic institutions are dealing with seismic shifts in funding and enrollment. The pressure on procurement teams can be intense as they are tasked with working more strategically than ever to reduce costs without sacrificing quality.
National procurement cooperative groups are increasingly important, in this environment, to find additional savings and streamline procurement.
There are more than 600 purchasing cooperatives operating across the country. Some are state or regional focused while others help with procurement nationally. In this list, we’ll focus on national procurement groups and split them into two groups: general purpose group purchasing organizations (GPOs) that serve a wide range of industries and cooperative groups that exclusively serve the education sector.
E&I Cooperative Services is the only member-owned non-profit purchasing cooperative exclusively serving the education sector, with hundreds of cooperative contracts and strategic services. Membership is free, and there is no minimum purchasing requirement.
E&I leverages the aggregated spend of 6,000+ member institutions to achieve significant volume discounts and contract terms tailored to K–12 and higher education.
While general-purpose cooperatives serve multiple industries including education, academic institutions face unique challenges that require specialized understanding. Generic procurement solutions often fall short when it comes to:
This is why E&I Cooperative Services focuses exclusively on K-12 and higher education. Our 90 years of education-only experience means:
When you choose a cooperative that truly understands education, you get more than just contracts—you get a strategic partner aligned with your mission.
Participating in a national purchasing cooperative group offers several key advantages for institutions:
With so many choices, which national purchasing coop is right for you? Here are some of the key factors you should weigh in your decision.
While general-purpose cooperatives offer broad contract access, education-focused GPOs bring a deeper understanding of academic needs.
E&I Cooperative Services specializes exclusively in K–12 and higher education procurement, offering contracts and supplier relationships tailored to the unique needs of education.
Some cooperatives require formal membership, annual dues, or purchasing minimums, while others open access with no fees. Academic institutions will benefit most from GPOs that have transparent terms, no-cost membership, and no commitment thresholds.
In the current budget environment, you want as much flexibility as possible.
Before joining a cooperative, review the categories and suppliers they offer. A strong GPO will provide a wide range of competitively bid contracts across areas that you need at your campuses. Ensure the cooperative has coverage in the areas where you spend the most and that their suppliers are reputable and experienced in working with educational institutions.
Compliance with local, state, and federal procurement regulations is critical, especially when you rely on grants. Confirm that the cooperative group competitively solicits contracts and it meets the legal and internal guidelines for procurement.
Beyond contracts, the best GPOs offer hands-on support, reporting tools, and strategic consulting to help you optimize your purchasing.
Look for cooperatives that provide dedicated account managers, category experts, and procurement analytics. These added services can improve efficiency and help your institution make better buying decisions. For example, E&I offers several resources to help procurement teams, including:
Ready to partner with the only cooperative exclusively focused on education? Learn more about the benefits of membership in E&I Cooperative Services, or apply for membership to browse hundreds of competitively solicited cooperative agreements.
