b'OPERATIONS ITH | SDF 29PHOTO: LOUISVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITYcontracted goods and services that can be used throughout anypurchase price for goods and services, but they often save time community. and money due to the streamlined buying process.How It Works One Airports ExperienceThe program has contracts specifically tailored for the unique natureIthaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) in of municipal airports. They require many of the goods and servicesCentral New York used to rely on its own airfield utilized by other local governments and some airport-specificmaintenance staff to paint runway and taxiway products, such as deicer, runway maintenance equipment andmarkings, but eventually began hiring outside special firefighting tools, Hines says. Public purchasers at moderncontractors. Although that saved labor hours on airports can overcome many of their unique buying challenges withthe tarmac, the process of issuing a request for Sourcewell contracts. proposals was still time-consuming. Going out All contracts are competitively solicited on behalf of 50,000+to bid was very cumbersome, recalls ITH AirportJOSH NALLEYparticipating entities. Public procurement pros will save timeDeputy Director and Fire Chief Josh Nalley. and money by choosing from hundreds of contracted SourcewellYoud hopefully get companies to bid on it. Then if they did, you had suppliers, says Hines, adding that associated savings can thento review the bids and make your decision, and hopefully the product be used to offset other expenses. When airport leaders usethey are selling meets the specification or the bid was not eligible and cooperative purchasing, they are tapping into procurement bestyou would have to start over. practices to stretch their budgets. That prompted the county-owned airport to begin purchasing At no cost or obligation to purchase through Sourcewell,through Sourcewell in 2013. It selected Hi-Lite Airfield Services government entities can register for the program in minutes. Afterfor painting and has used the company for various pavement an airport receives its account number (usually within one businessmaintenance projects ever since. The airport has also purchased day), personnel can immediately purchase using the programsequipment and supplies through the program, including a fire truck established cooperative contracts. Naturally, airports pay theand associated equipment such as turn out gear, extrication tools and radios. Sourcewell gives us a broader range of using vendors AirportImprovement.comNovember | December 2023'