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WITH NLC PROGRAM, CITIES SAVE MONEY THE OLD FASHIONED WAY BY MARC SHAPIRO It is not often that a city can take no risk in A new contract for homeland security solutions order to gain significant savings. A program was awarded to Hagemeyer North America last sponsored by the National League of Cities - the December. U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance - provides this opportunity for savings The competitively solicited contract provides first every day to its member cities and all cities and responders and other public agencies across the towns. country access to a broad range of security, safety, law enforcement and fire equipment Established in 1996, U.S. Communities now offers without the need for additional solicitation. And last 12 competitively solicited contracts, ranging from month, a contract was awarded to Home Depot to basic office supplies to emergency homeland provide maintenance, repair and operations security equipment. products. These contracts have been solicited by large Also last month, after reviewing proposals from cities and counties on behalf of all local and state several national and regional companies, U.S. governments. Communities renewed the contract for office and school supplies with Office Depot. The new As a result, any city, county, school or other public contract features significant pricing and program agency with statutory authority to use cooperative improvements, including an "Everyday Office purchasing agreements may piggyback on these Essential" catalogue of 4,500 items now dis- contracts. counted at 70 percent off list price (formerly 63 percent off). The core list for office supplies has "NLC is pleased to be a national sponsor of U.S. also been expanded from 300 items to 500 items. Communities," said Donald J. Sorut, NLC execu- tive director. "Working with and through our net- The office and school supply contract continues to work of state municipal leagues, we are able to offer best procurement practice solutions for inform our members of the opportunities for both participating cities and towns, including free next- cost savings and administrative savings in typical day delivery, just-in-time purchasing, electronic and emergency government purchasing, and to and telephonic ordering, incentives for electronic bring the best government pricing to the smallest ordering, incentives for volume purchasing and of local governments." customer-friendly return policies. Sorut was elected vice chair of the U.S. Commu- 'The U.S. Communities contracts we've used, nities Board of Directors at its annual meeting especially the Office Depot contract, have pro- early this month. vided both efficiency and cost savings," said Jim Mcintyre, buyer supervisor for the City and County In 2005, more than 12,000 public agencies pur- of Denver. '" would recommend U.S. Communities chased goods and services valued at more than contracts to any purchasing department looking to $600 million through U.S. Communities. save time and money," he added. According to program estimates, U.S. Communi- The U.S. Communities program is easy to use. ties contracts have saved cites, counties and other public agencies more than $1 billion in There is no fee to participate, no minimum spend- purchasing costs since 1999. ing and only a simple electronic registration is required. The two most recent contracts further enhance and expand the products available through U.S. Any city or town may register online for the Communities. Continued on Page 9 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 February 17, 2006 - Issue #7