Maximizing Value Through Cooperative Purchasing Organizations: A Guide for Procurement Professionals
How much does it really cost to work through the bid or RFP process? A 2024 study by the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP) broke it down, including the time and personnel resources to issue and manage solicitations, including: Developing specifications Creating a bid package Advertising Pre-bid meetings Response period Bid opening Evaluation process Awarding […]
How Cooperative Purchasing Organizations Can Support a Better Business Model for Small Colleges
“If you think about who needs a cooperative the most, it’s a small college or university,” said Eric Frank, Chief Executive Officer at E&I Cooperative Services. “They generally don’t have a procurement team at all in many cases. If they do, they have very few people and very few resources. They don’t have the time, […]
How Cooperative Purchasing Organizations Streamline the Key Components of a Procurement Plan
Procurement in education is time-consuming and complex. If you add up the hours put into crafting RFPs, putting out notices, sourcing suppliers, reviewing proposals, and negotiating contracts, it’s also an expensive proposition. Cooperative purchasing organizations can help by streamlining procurement and eliminating much of the administrative burden. Let’s take a look at what typically goes […]
The Power of Strategic Procurement and Leveraging Cooperative Purchasing Organizations for Optimal Results
Cooperative purchasing organizations in education offer a long list of benefits, including significant cost savings through the collective purchasing power of different academic institutions. Members gain access to a wealth of expertise, including insights from category specialists who help create cooperative contracts with more favorable pricing, terms, and conditions. In addition to cost benefits, cooperative […]
How AI Is Impacting the Future of Higher Education Procurement
Procurement in higher education has always been a complex balancing act, requiring procurement and financial teams to navigate budget constraints alongside the evolving demands from academic and administrative departments. The result is often a process that feels complex and cumbersome. The pressure to streamline procurement and lower costs has increased. Artificial intelligence (AI) and data […]
Ethical Procurement in Higher Education: Why It Matters for Schools and Universities
The Oxford College of Procurement and Supply defines ethical procurement as a code of conduct and a commitment to environmental, social, and economic issues. It’s the set of principles that guides an approach to procurement and eliminates unethical practices throughout the supply chain. Increasingly, colleges and universities recognize the importance of ethical considerations in their […]
Aligning Procurement Goals with Strategic Purchasing Power
Schools, colleges, and universities are constantly seeking ways to optimize their resources while ensuring they can provide top-tier services for students, staff, and faculty. In today’s environment, doing so generally means working with limited or declining budgets and an intense focus on cost-efficient solutions, without sacrificing quality. It’s a big job. Aligning your procurement goals […]
What Is the Best ERP Software for Colleges? How Cooperative Purchasing Organizations Help Secure the Best Deal
Today’s students expect a high degree of online services,posing a growing challenge for schools still relying on legacy software. “When they go to university, (students) expect to be able to get systems and services that look like what they’re used to using online from so many other providers,” said Michael Berman, now-retired CIO of the […]
What Trends Are Happening in Higher Education Procurement? Tech, Sustainability, and More.
What trends are happening in procurement in higher ed? Four key factors are shaping the procurement landscape moving forward: Supply chain uncertainty: Procurement teams are now focusing on building resilient supply networks rather than just cutting costs, helping institutions adapt to changing global markets. AI and data analytics: New technologies are revolutionizing how universities analyze […]
Understanding the Education Cooperative Definition: What Is a Cooperative Supplier Relationship?
Tight budgets and bigger workloads it may not be the best way to work, but it has become more than the norm at academic institutions. Rising costs, decreased staff, and an increased emphasis on cost control are turning an already challenging job into a nearly overwhelming experience for many procurement teams. With the pressure to […]
