Supply-chain issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic may be easing, but it’s clear that we’re still not out of the woods. Public safety, like other industries, continues to be impacted by these issues. For example, a fire-rescue service agency may wait three years or more to receive fire apparatus they order today.
These issues, on top of long-standing procurement challenges—like initiating an RFP and developing specs for anything a fire-rescue service leader wants to buy for their agency, can take a lot of time.
So, it is no surprise to hear that more fire-rescue departments across the country are turning to a better, faster way of getting the goods and services they need: cooperative purchasing, also called group purchasing. In fact, it’s estimated that more than $50 billion was spent in 2022 by state and local governments using cooperative contracts.
Simply put, cooperative purchasing is procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, one or more government units for use by other government units, including fire-rescue services. In practical terms, this means chiefs can simply choose existing, negotiated contracts that meet their requirements to buy what they need. Contracts can range from office supplies to fire apparatus, and most everything in between.
Time saved from starting an RFP process and seeing it through translates into a quicker purchasing process, allowing departments to get the things they need much sooner. It’s not unusual, either, for an agency to find their procurement department is already using cooperative purchasing for other purchases outside the fire department; when this is the case, a chief can quickly adopt this approach for their purchases as well. A quicker process doesn’t come with a higher price tag. Often agencies find that group purchasing results in cost savings, since negotiated contracts with reputable suppliers typically include competitive pricing.
Learn more about how cooperative purchasing through Sourcewell can shorten and simplify your fire-rescue agency’s procurement process, both by piggybacking off of existing contracts and helping you navigate supply-chain challenges. These articles are written by Crosby Grindle, President of Cooperative Services, LLC, and a Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA) board member.
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