Navigating Lifecycle Management for Higher Ed Cooperative Purchasing Contracts

If you work with a cooperative purchasing organization, you expect more than just contract negotiation and discount pricing. You want a partner that will help you navigate the contract’s lifecycle so you can maximize the value. The best cooperatives look out for their members, advocating for them throughout the contract period for cooperative purchasing. They […]
How Cooperative Purchasing Contracts Help Higher Ed Institutions Build Strategic Partnerships

For procurement and finance teams, cooperative purchasing contracts in higher ed represent more than just a way to save money. These agreements can serve as a strategic way to build stronger—and lasting—supplier relationships that deliver greater value. When you have a purchasing cooperative contract in place, it allows you to focus more of your energy […]
Who Benefits from Cooperative Purchasing Contracts? A Complete Guide

Procurement teams and financial administrators face mounting pressure to maximize budgets and maintain high standards of quality and compliance. Cooperative purchasing contracts are a powerful solution, letting you leverage collective buying power and streamline procurement. Cooperative purchasing contracts provide access to pre-negotiated contracts for goods and services, eliminating the need for individual bidding and creating […]
E&I Cooperative Services, in Partnership with Cornell University, Announces Groundbreaking EdPro NextGen Leadership Program for Future Educational Procurement Executives
Nov 08, 2024 | Prestigious Nine-Month Program to Equip Procurement Professionals with Executive Leadership Skills, Culminating in a Dual Certificate from E&I and Cornell
E&I Cooperative Services and GEP Win Prestigious CIPS 2024 Award for ‘Procurement Consultancy Project of the Year’
Nov 8, 2024 | E&I and GEP Partnership Recognized for Setting a New Benchmark in Cooperative Procurement Efficiency
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 […]