TIPS

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative?

TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) is a national purchasing cooperative that streamlines the procurement process for public entities. Managed by the Region 8 Education Service Center, TIPS provides members access to competitively procured contracts for goods and services.

Is there a cost to join TIPS?

No, membership in the TIPS Purchasing Cooperative is completely free. It is open to publicly funded entities including K-12 school districts, colleges, universities, city and county governments, and non-profit organizations.

Does purchasing through TIPS satisfy competitive bidding requirements?

Yes. All TIPS contracts have already been competitively bid and awarded by the Region 8 ESC Board of Directors. Using TIPS satisfies many state and federal procurement requirements, saving members the time and stress of conducting their own lengthy bidding processes.