The Local Government Purchasing Cooperative was created to increase the purchasing power of government entities and to simplify their purchasing by using a customized electronic purchasing system, called the BuyBoard. The Cooperative is administered by the Texas Association of School Boards and is endorsed by the Texas Municipal League (TML) and the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).   Internet-based Online Purchasing The Cooperative uses Internet-based technologies to create a single source for product and awarded contract information. The BuyBoard, a secured Web site, allows members to make confident buying decisions and streamline the purchasing process. The BuyBoard’s simple format allows point-and-click access to detailed product descriptions, part numbers, and images. Buyers simply select products that best fit their needs. Searching can be done by keyword, part number, vendor, or even manufacturer. Members only need a Web browser to access the efficiencies created using the BuyBoard. The BuyBoard allows buyers to create purchase requisitions and route those requisitions based on an approval path that each entity defines. As requisitions are approved, status history is tracked. At the point the purchase is fully approved, a purchase order is created and transmitted electronically to the vendor.  No More Bidding All items and catalogs posted on the BuyBoard have been competitively procured and awarded by the Cooperative’s Board of Trustees based on Texas statutes. This eliminates the need for members to go through the bidding process on their own. A request for quote (RFQ) option is also available for volume purchases. By using an RFQ to awarded Co-op vendors, members have the opportunity to save additional money, again, without going through the formal bid process themselves. The end result is a reduction in administrative efforts while maintaining compliance with competitive bidding requirements.   BuyBoard Objectives               Facilitate compliance with state bidding requirements               Identify qualified vendors of goods and services               Relieve the burdens of governmental purchasing functions               Reduce the cost of goods and services with economies of scale   BuyBoard Features                    View electronic catalogs of available products               Use keyword searches to locate products and services               Create purchase requisitions and purchase orders               Send purchase orders electronically to contracted vendors               Create approval routes for approval of purchases               Create RFQs for price quotes   Approved Roofing Systems               Tamko               Peterson Aluminum               GAF               Berrage               Firestone               Soprema               Ludowici               Owens Corning               Lifetile               Certainteed               Koppers               Flex               Hyload               Duro-Last               Thermo               Sarnafil               MBCI