Since 1971, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has used volume purchasing to reduce the cost of goods and services that local jurisdictions normally spend millions of dollars on annually. Through the COG Cooperative Purchasing Program, members save money, time, and resources on products such as gasoline and diesel fuel for numerous jurisdictions, public safety radios, and water and wastewater treatment chemicals. Local governments, school boards, water and sewer authorities, and other agencies, such as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, participate in the program. This type of combined purchasing saves the region around two to four million dollars each year.

Recently, COG led a successful solicitation, in partnership with the COG Fire Chiefs Committee, for a consortium purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for local fire departments. SCBAs help provide firefighters, rescue workers, and others with breathable air in dangerous situations. Awards were approved for multiple vendors, and due to the COG Rider Clause, jurisdictions within and outside of the metropolitan Washington region, can benefit from this award. For example, Arlington County projects a savings of $600,000 on their previously negotiated contract, using this procurement. The District of Columbia, the cities of Fairfax, Alexandria, and Manassas, and others, are also expected to participate, totaling a purchasing power of over $14 million.

Another recent cooperative award includes the Health and Wellness Program Services, which provides first responders with physical and mental health programs and resources. This award also has a COG Rider Clause, allowing for greater participation.

The success of the SCBA consortium, and other recent cooperative purchases have inspired members to explore more opportunities to save. The Fire Chiefs Committee has requested research on a fire safety tools consortium for resources such as ladders, hoses and other key fire station hardware. COG and the committee will soon be working to lay out the specifics for a bid document.

The Cooperative Purchasing Program provides significant savings for jurisdictions. New cooperative purchasing opportunities are regularly being added. To find more information, visit mwcog.org/cooperativepurchasing.

For questions or ideas for cooperative purchasing contracts, contact purchasing@mwcog.org.