Course Description
The Cooperative Blueprint™ helps learners tap into one of the most strategic tools in public
procurement—cooperative purchasing. This course explores how government entities and institutions
can share resources, avoid duplicative procurements, and achieve better pricing by buying
collaboratively.
Learners will explore how to evaluate cooperative purchasing agreements, how to properly “piggyback”
on contracts, and what legal, ethical, and competitive safeguards must be in place. The course includes
real case studies of regional buying groups, statewide contracts, and national co-ops—and how they save
time, money, and compliance headaches.
This course empowers procurement professionals to think beyond traditional purchasing silos and build
strong regional partnerships. By the end, learners will be able to identify opportunities for collaboration,
navigate the rules that govern shared procurement, and make the case for cooperative strategies that
benefit the entire community.
What you’ll learn
- Ensure documentation meets transparency and audit requirements
- Learn how to join or lead cooperative contract agreements
- Collaborate more effectively across departments and agencies
- Gain a clear understanding of cooperative procurement principles
