b'28 ITH | SDF OPERATIONS Airports Reap the Benefits of Cooperative PurchasingBY KRISTEN RINDFLEISCHHundreds of airports arehundreds of individual solicitations from harnessing the power ofgovernment and education entities.cooperative purchasing forAirports and everything from pencils to multimillion- others that qualify dollar fire trucks to airfield stripingfor the program can services, and theyre enjoying streamlinedtake advantage of procurement and often better pricinggroup buying power, as a result. Sourcewell, a cooperativewith most goods and created by the Minnesota legislature asservices delivered FACTS&FIGURESa local unit of government, simplifies thethrough local dealersKIP HINESbuying process by developing requestsor representatives. Project: Cooperative Purchasingfor proposals and bid invitations for Program: Sourcewell national, competitive solicitations thatIts a win-win buying scenario for airports or any local entity, remarks Kip Participants: 350+ North American airports (50,000meet or exceed most local requirements.Hines, brand manager with Sourcewell.overall government & education entities) Government and education entities can Sample Participants: Ithaca (NY) Tompkins Intl Airport;then purchase goods and services usingCurrently, more than 350 municipal Louisville (KY) Muhammad Ali Intl Airport hundreds of Sourcewell supplier contractsairports throughout North America use Cost: No additional expenses for purchasesat no additional cost. The companies thatSourcewells cooperative purchasing provide the goods and services pay ancontracts. Hines notes that participation Sample Suppliers & Service Providers: Grainger;may actually be significantly higher. If Hi-Lite Airfield Services; Lusk Mechanical; MB Companies;administrative fee to Sourcewell based on Schindler Elevator; Sherwin Industries Inc. a percentage of sales processed throughcities or counties are purchasing on Key Benefits: Efficient procurement; competitive pricingthe awarded contract, and value the easebehalf of their local airport, we wont due to group buying power; industry-specific contracts;of offering services through a cooperativeknow it, he explains. We are just happy quality assurance; direct connections to vetted product/ contract compared to responding toto streamline their buying process with service providers November | December 2023AirportImprovement.com'