List of Education Purchasing Cooperatives: Finding the Right National Procurement Partner for Your Institution
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. List of National […]
The Complete Guide to EdTech Procurement: How Education Institutions Can Maximize Technology Investments
Technology has become essential to institutional success across K–12 schools, colleges, and universities. From AI-driven tutoring platforms and digital assessments to LMS integrations and campus security systems, technology for education has become foundational to efficiency. Yet, tech procurement is more complex than ever. There are literally thousands of AI tools on the market now. Spending […]
National Purchasing Cooperative Agreements: Essential Contract Tips for Education Procurement Excellence
Concerns over student loan payments to schools, grant funding to K–12, projected budget shortfalls, and enrollment declines are causing significant stress. The Georgetown Edunomics Lab estimates that $24 billion in funds used for labor—about 250,000 jobs—are currently at risk, going into the next budget cycle nationwide. Every dollar is precious, and procurement teams are under […]
Strategic Cost Savings with Existing Suppliers in Higher Education Procurement
In the complex environment of higher education procurement, institutions are under increasing pressure to maximize value, manage limited budgets, and deliver high service levels to diverse stakeholders. While leveraging volume across departments or testing new suppliers remains common, the most impactful savings often come from working more strategically with existing suppliers. These suppliers already understand […]
Understanding GPOs: Smarter Buying Through Group Purchasing
To say things are changing in today’s higher education environment is a massive understatement. Every day, it seems like there’s a new challenge over funding and fundraising, financial aid, endowments, enrollment, and more. Inside Higher Ed’s 2025 Survey of College and University Presidents put it into perspective. While 87% of those surveyed are confident in […]
What Can I Buy Through the Staples Contract for Higher Education?
Staples offers thousands of products educational institutions use every day. While you can get discounts through the company’s Staples Business program, colleges and universities can significantly reduce their costs with additional savings by utilizing a cooperative contract with E&I Cooperative Services. Cooperative Purchasing With E&I’s Staples Contract E&I Cooperative Services is a member-owned, nonprofit sourcing cooperative exclusively […]
How Does E&I’s Staples Contract Help Streamline Campus Purchasing?
Procurement leaders in higher education are under growing pressure to do more with less. Shrinking budgets, decentralized purchasing, and the need for consistent service across campus departments make managing procurement both complex and time-consuming. As a result, many institutions turn to cooperative contracts for relief, and one of the most effective solutions available is the […]
How Do I Register a Staples Business Account for My Institution?
A Staples Business account integrates with your eProcurement system and provides competitive pricing with a Higher Education focus. However, colleges and universities can make their Staples Business account go even further by working through a cooperative agreement with E&I Cooperative Services. With E&I’s Staples contract, you get exclusive pricing that gives you access to even […]
Is Staples Business Worth It for Colleges and Universities?
Is Staples Business worth it? Here’s the quick answer: yes. With Staples Business program, you get an extensive higher education focused core list at competitive pricing. This typically results in about a 10% reduction compared to other suppliers. However, there’s also a way to lower your costs even further. When you choose a cooperative contract […]
Modern Procurement in Higher Education: Strategies, Solutions, and Smart Sourcing with Staples Business
Colleges and universities across the country are navigating an increasingly challenging financial environment. Inflation, budget constraints, shrinking endowments, fluctuating enrollment, international tariffs, shifting government funding policies—the list is long (and getting longer). Nearly half of institutions surveyed by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) say they have serious concerns about federal student […]