2. Who We Are  A Cooperative Purchasing Network for government agencies in the State of Missouri  Sponsored by the MARE in Missouri and Region 8 Education Service Center in Mt. Pleasant, TX  Servicing government agencies throughout Missouri  Building Partnerships between vendors and government agencies

3. TIPS Resources  TIPS is a statewide purchasing cooperative.  The operation is a Partnership between MARE and Region 8 ESC to provide efficiency.  TIPS currently has seven staff members  Web Site – www.tips-usa.com

4. Why We Do It Government agencies need assistance with purchasing: Not enough staff Not enough staff Not enough expertise Not enough expertise Not enough time & resources Not enough time & resources Not individually large enough to get the best contracts Not individually large enough to get the best contracts

5. Why We Do It Paradigms are shifting in government agency purchasing to what private enterprise purchasing did 15 years ago.

6. Government Purchasing Paradigm Shifts  Bid/Buy=Annual Contracts  Many Vendors =Fewer vendors  Many Contracts=Fewer Contracts

7. Government Purchasing Paradigm Shifts  Costly Paperwork=E-commerce  Purchasing Control=Customer Service  Price Only = Value Added Services  Low bid= Total cost purchasing

8. What TIPS Does  Solicits competitive proposals in compliance with government agency bid laws in the State of Texas and Missouri  Awards contracts for primary and secondary vendors by commodity categories  Makes 63 competitively bid contracts available to participating agencies  Establishes annual renewable contracts that can be used as needed

9. What TIPS Does Evaluates Competitive Proposals on the following criteria: Quality of product line offered Quality of product line offered Quantity of line items available that are used by participating agencies Quantity of line items available that are used by participating agencies Customer support Customer support Suppliers demonstrated ability to perform Suppliers demonstrated ability to perform Pricing Pricing

10. What TIPS Does Not Do  Charge membership or participation fees to participating agencies  Does not award all bidders with a contract  Does not make sales calls on behalf of vendors

11. Where  TIPS has over 750 active participating government agencies throughout the States of Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri (71)  The main TIPS office is located in Mt. Pleasant, TX with representatives traveling throughout Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri  Toll free phone & fax lines are available to the Mt. Pleasant office (866) 839-8477  Negotiating with Oklahoma, Kansas, and California

12. Who Has Contracts With TIPS? Competitively awarded contracts are held by approximately 49 quality vendors including: CDWG, Biz Supplies, Xerox, KLC Video Security, Carrier Corp., MICO Industrial Corp., Unisource, EnPointe, and Virco just to name a few… Competitively awarded contracts are held by approximately 49 quality vendors including: CDWG, Biz Supplies, Xerox, KLC Video Security, Carrier Corp., MICO Industrial Corp., Unisource, EnPointe, and Virco just to name a few…

13. Who Can Participate? Any government agency or private school in the State of Missouri including: Any government agency or private school in the State of Missouri including:  Public School Districts, Municipal & Junior Colleges  Universities  Cities, Counties  State and Some Federal Agencies

14. How Do I Become a Member  Execute a Board Resolution  Execute an Interlocal Agreement

15. How To Use the Web Site: www.tips-usa.com Click on Missouri www.tips-usa.com

16. How To Use the Web Site: www.tips-usa.com Hover over Vendors – Click on Awarded Vendors www.tips-usa.com

17. How To Use the Web Site: www.tips-usa.com Sort by Vendor or Commodity – Click on GO www.tips-usa.com

18. How To Use the Web Site: www.tips-usa.com Click on the Vendor link www.tips-usa.com

19. How To Use the Web Site: www.tips-usa.com Vendor Profile Page www.tips-usa.com

20. TIPS Contact Information: David Mabe Region 8 Education Service Center Deputy Executive Director (903) 575-2602 dmabe@reg8.net Kim Thompson Administrative Assistant (866) 839-8477 kthompson@reg8.net tips@reg8.net dmabe@reg8.net kthompson@reg8.net tips@reg8.net dmabe@reg8.net kthompson@reg8.net tips@reg8.net