Chapter 20 - Joint and/or Cooperative and GSA Contract IT Procurements

20.1.3 Before using a joint and/or cooperative contract

A prudent buyer should do the following before utilizing a joint and/or cooperative IT contract:

• Review the joint and/or cooperative IT contract for conformance with state or local procurement laws and best practices.
• Analyze the product or service specifications, price, terms and conditions and other factors to ensure that the joint and/or cooperative IT contract reflects the market place and best value.
• Contact the joint and/or cooperative lead agency or public body to verify contract application and eligibility.
• Compare contracts if there are multiple contracts available for the required IT product or service.
• When buying large quantities of goods, verify whether the contract permits negotiation of additional price concessions.
• If a purchase agreement or sign-up agreement is required, confer with an IT procurement professional, VITA or your agency’s legal counsel to determine whether the agreement is acceptable.