Kansas City Regional Purchasing Cooperative
Newsletter for April 2008

Environmental cooperative purchasing

Purchasing and environmental staff from local governments met April 11 to discuss how we could help and encourage local governments to buy green. Represented at the meeting were Clay County, Douglas County, Jackson County, Johnson County, KCMO, Gladstone, Olathe, and MARC.

Local governments are interested in purchasing green and has instituted some steps along this line including forming committees, planned purchases, investigating hybrids and adopting policies. However, no community has yet really "figured it all out." Therefore, there are a lot of opportunities to share information and help each other. We decided there were seven things we could do initially to help local governments expand their green purchasing:

• Work with MACPP to hold a green vendor fair where vendors can display and discuss their green products for local government officials.
• Develop a green purchasing model ordinance.
• If an agency has a Web link to green purchasing information, model ordinance or would like to participate, please contact Dean Katerndahl. A single Web site will be available for links, information, and meeting notices for workshops and other events. This will be our central clearinghouse and resource center.
• A green category has been added to the contract database, which will allow a local government to pull up all green contracts available. If you have such a contract, contact Rita Parker.
• Identify one or more commodities, such as janitorial supplies, to assemble a cooperative green bid using the KCRPC.
• Develop standards, such as certifications like Energy Star and Green Seal, so local governments can easily tell what is really green.
• Compile an education program to share this information.
• Pass on any thoughts or ideas about green purchasing or things we can do to promote it. One of the topics we will be discussing is how you know something is really green, that it really makes a difference.

Midwest Green Procurement Conference

This conference will be held June 4-5 at Navy Pier in Chicago. It will have four tracks of seminars — government, corporate, facilities management, and academic institutions — as well as the expo itself. More information can be found at www.thegreenexposition.com.

Current projects

Emergency Vehicle Equipment — A bid will be issued to provide a discount off the specified standard manufacturers' price list. The draft bid document, based on input received to date, will be completed by the end April. Contact KCRPC if you would like to participate or receive a copy of the draft.

Be sure to check the database before issuing an individual agency bid or when you're looking for a cooperative contract. Contact KCRPC for assistance if you can't find what you need.

On-site purchasing workshops offered

Did you know that KCRPC offers individual on-site workshops? Your agency can learn how to take advantage of our services, use local contracts and purchase using the H-GAC contracts. Contact KCRPC to schedule your workshop.

Save money and time with H-GAC contracts

H-GAC has an extensive list of capital equipment such as pothole patchers, street sweepers, sewer cleaners, fire apparatus, fleet services equipment and many others. Be sure to check the H-GAC contract information on our Web site. End users are reporting significant savings in dollars and delivery time on fire trucks compared to individual agency bids.

A reminder to all agencies, as more local dealers are becoming involved with H-GAC purchases, it's important to be sure KCRPC is involved with any quote submitted to your agency. All quotes under H-GAC are reviewed for contract compliance before a purchase order can be issued. An order is not complete until H-GACBuy issues a confirming order. Copies of all purchase orders issued must be sent to KCRPC. An order is not complete until H-GACBuy issues a confirming order.

If you have not been in contact with KCRPC on a pending quote, please contact us.

Suggest regional joint bids

If your agency is interested in participating in joint bids, please contact KCRPC. Suggestions for future bids are always welcome!

KCRPC contract database

Our database currently has over 75 cooperative contracts provided by area agencies, including those issued by MARC/KCRPC.

New contracts in the KCRPC database include:

• Brush grinding services
• Water chemicals
• Liquid cationic and anionic polymer
• Police uniform alteration services
• Generator maintenance
• Office supplies and furniture