Opportunity Abounds

BizSupplies TIPS Program

The Challenge

Knowing You Are Purchasing At The Best Possible Price

Obtaining Price Levels On All Product Categories That Are Normally Only Available To Large Districts Or Governmental Agencies

Being Able To Make Legal Purchases Without The Cumbersome And Expensive Bid Process

SOLUTION

BizSupplies and the TIPS Cooperative Provide a Complete Purchasing Solution

No Bid Requirement No Contract Commitment No Minimum Order Contract Pricing 40,000 Products 31 Distribution Centers Next Day Delivery Knowledgeable Service

BIZSUPPLIES TIPS PROGRAM

40,000 Products

Delivered Next Day

All At Contract Prices

TIPS COOPERATIVE

The TIPS Cooperative began in 2002 as the Texas Interlocal Purchasing System and hosted by the Region 8 Education Service Center in Texas and had 48 original member schools.

In 2006 TIPS opens membership to other states across the US formally creating a National Purchasing Cooperative.

Today TIPS has agreements with over 46 states and approaching 2,000 member schools and governmental entities.

TIPS has PARTNERSHIPS with state entities such as Dawson Coop, AR; ASBA, AR; MARE, MO; OROS, OK; and CPEC, TN.

18 of the 20 Education Service Centers in Texas are also partners with TIPS.

TIPS COOPERATIVE

Membership in TIPS is open to public or private school districts; colleges and universities; city and county offices; local, state and federal agencies and/or any other “not for profit” organization.

Memberships are available in 46 of the 50 U.S. States who allow entities in their states to participate in “out of state” purchasing cooperatives.

There Is No Fee To The Member To Join TIPS

Easy to Join TIPS. The New Member required Interlocal Agreement documents can be found on the TIPS website www.tips-usa.com

TIPS SOLUTION

Provides school districts and other governmental entities opportunities for greater efficiency and economy in acquiring goods and services. Members avoid the time and expense of going through the public bidding process to purchase their supplies and equipment.

Maintains credibility and confidence in business procedures by maintaining open competition for purchases and by complying with purchasing laws and ethical business practices.

Vendors who have been competitively awarded contracts have agreed to provide the best pricing, terms and conditions available to similar customers.

Equalizes purchasing power for smaller entities that are not able to command the best contracts for themselves.

TIPS SOLUTION

MICHIGAN EDUCATIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES:

Membership to all Michigan Schools, Colleges, Universities, and City/County Municipal Agencies, in The Interlocal Purchasing System, is "FREE”.

Please download these two (2) documents and submit to TIPS to become a member.

Interlocal Agreement

Board Resolution

If you have questions please contact us at (866) 839-8477 or email tips@reg8.net.

Government Authority:

Michigan Law any Michigan public agency may jointly with any other public agency of Michigan or of another state exercise any power, privilege, or authority that the agencies share in common and that each might exercise separately. Id at § 124.504. “Public Agency” is defined as a political subdivision of Michigan or another state of the United States including but not limited to, a state government, a county, city, village, township, charter township or a school district. Id at § 124.502€. A Texas Regional Service Center is a political subdivision of Texas. TEX.EDUC.CODE § 8.001, et seq. Therefore a Michigan public agency may contract with the Region 8 Service Center to jointly undertake any of the powers or authorities that both commonly share.

TIPS VENDOR SELECTION

TIPS competitively bids all awarded contracts by:

Posting Request For Proposal (RFP) on website and in newspapers

Receiving sealed proposals from vendors

Reviewing and Scoring vendor proposals for Price; Service; Quality; Delivery; Term; MBE etc…

Awarding vendor contracts to multiple vendors.

Currently there are over 750 awarded contracts in the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative to select goods and services from.

TIPS PURPOSE

The purpose of the TIPS Program shall be to continue operation of a purchasing program which provides substantial savings and best value for participating educational entities or public agencies through cooperative purchasing.

Today, TIPS is a nationally known and respected purchasing cooperative that provides best value pricing to it’s membership.

With almost 1700 members and over 750 awarded vendors, TIPS has eligible membership in 46 states.

In 2006, the National Rural Education Service Center voted TIPS Purchasing Cooperative as the Most Cost Effective Program offered to schools in the nation.

TIPS COMMODITIES – PARTIAL LIST Asphalt, Paving

Assistive Technology

Athletic Stadiums and Seating

Audio Visual Equip & Supplies

Automobiles

Cabling Products and Services

Classroom and Teaching Aids

Commercial Cafeteria Equipment and Furniture

Comprehensive HVAC Solutions & Services

Computers, Equipment, Components & Peripherals

Copiers, Fax and Multifunction Machines

Criminal Background Check & Finger Printing Services

Custodial Equipment, Services and Supplies

Data Center Hosting, Sales & Service

Document Imaging and Duplicating Services

Energy Professional Services

Fire and Emergency Rescue Vehicles

Floor Covering, Supplies & Services

Food Service: Equipment, Chemicals, Supplies &Service

Food Service: Management Tools (including Software)

Furniture (All) and Installation

Graphing Calculators, Supplies and Service

Grounds Maintenance, Equipment, Supplies & Services

Gym Floors, Repairs, Replacements & Service

Heavy Duty Construction Equipment

Industrial Equipment and Supplies

Internet and Network Security

Internet Services

Janitorial Services

Job Order Contracting and

Related Services

Library Books and Literature

Lighting

Lockers

Management Software and Services

Medical Equipment, Supplies

Motorola Broadband

Music Instruments & Sheet Music

Networking Equipment, Software and Services

Office and School Supplies

Photo ID Systems

Photo Voltaic Laminate Application

Photography Services

Playground, Athletic, PE, HD Gym, Weight Lifting, & Exercise Equipment

Portable/Modular Buildings

Roofing

Safety Equipment, Supplies

School Bus Surveillance

School Bus Used or Refurbished

Sporting Goods, Apparel & Equipment

Sports Facility Lighting

Synthetic or Natural Sports Fields, Courts or Tracks

Telephone Systems, Equipment, Repair & Service

Trades, Temporary Labor and Materials

Trailers

Two Way Radios

Uniforms: Sales, Rent, Servicing

Waste Management, Recycling, and Sustainability Solutions

Water Meters and/or Water Meter Reading Systems

Web Hosting, Web Services and Content Management

Wireless Data and Voice

A FEW TIPS VENDORS

BIZSUPPLIES

BizSupplies is an awarded vendor with TIPS and currently holds contracts for the following categories:

Office and School Supplies

Audio Visual Equipment and Supplies

Furniture (All) and Installation

Classroom and Teaching Aids

Custodial Equipment, Services and Supplies

BIZSUPPLIES AND KERR ALBERT BizSupplies has established a Select Program only

available to TIPS Members. In order to reach other states and potential TIPS Members, BizSupplies partners with selected office products dealers who will offer the same Select Program to TIPS Members.

BizSupplies is pleased to announce that Kerr Albert Office Supplies & Equipment in Port Huron, Michigan has been selected to partner with BizSupplies in our TIPS Program.

Kerr Albert will be officially approved by the TIPS Board of Directors at their meeting in February, 2013.

SUMMARY

TIPS Cooperative offers members significant benefits

There is no cost for membership in the TIPS Program

BizSupplies Management has over 40 years of experience in the office products industry and currently holds multiple contracts with TIPS

Kerr Albert Office Supplies & Equipment has been selected as a partner with BizSupplies to introduce our TIPS Program to Michigan.

Kerr Albert is a family business with over 50 years of office products experience and industry knowledge now offering the TIPS Program to Michigan.