Cooperative Purchasing
If a college or university wants to do its own bidding, the different requirements, depending on dollar range, can be found in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Procedure 5.14.5.
However, according to Minnesota Statutes 2002, Chapter 471.345, Uniform Municipal Contracting Law, Subd. 15, Cooperative purchasing:
"A municipality may contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, or equipment without regard to the competitive bidding requirements of this section if this purchase is through a national municipal association's purchasing alliance or cooperative created by a joint powers agreement that purchases items from more than one source on the basis of competitive bids or competitive quotations."
You may use any of the following means of purchasing instead of undertaking the public quote or bid process since these commodities have already been through the public bid process.
Systemwide purchasing programs
- Systemwide Purchasing Card Program
This program allows a system institution to streamline purchases and make purchases on line. - Information Technology Services - Office of Instructional Technology
This program provides academic software license agreements available for systemwide use.
Purchasing programs outside of the system
- Department of Administration
For an annual fee, the college or university can use the state's master contracts. Each college or university signs their own agreement with the Department of Administration. This includes the Western States Contract Alliance (WSCA) for computer-related products. - Hennepin County Cooperative Purchasing Program
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has joined on behalf of all institutions. - Midwestern Higher Education Commission
Provides affordable access to computing resources for Midwestern colleges, universities, and their faculty, staff and students. - MINNCOR Industries
A division of the Department of Corrections, products and services are also available without completing the bid process. Their product line continues to grow, but primarily focuses on seating, furniture, printing services and signage. - Office of Technology Master Program Vendors
A list of contractors that have been pre-approved by the Minnesota Office of Technology for Professional/Technical Services contracts. These contractors can be used without going through the normal P/T Services contract Request for Proposal process because they have already responded to an RFP process through the Office of Technology. - University of Minnesota
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has a master agreement with the University of Minnesota for all its institutions.
If you have questions or comments please e-mail us (contracts@so.mnscu.edu) or refer to the staff directory link at the top of this page for additional contact information.
