National Cooperative Contracts: Faster Procurement for Extra Duty Services

Pre-negotiated, competitively bid agreements can save months of procurement time without cutting corners.

Even when a chief or sheriff is convinced that a better extra duty administration model exists, procurement rules can stall the decision for months. National cooperative contracts exist specifically to solve that problem.

What They Are

Cooperative contracts are pre-negotiated, competitively solicited agreements established by purchasing cooperatives on behalf of government agencies nationwide. The RFP process – solicitation, evaluation, and award – has already been completed. Agencies can review the contract and begin work without running their own bid process.

Why They Matter to Command Staff

• Time savings: No lengthy RFP process required.
• Legal defensibility: Competitively bid and audit-ready, helping agencies document a compliant procurement process.
• Competitive pricing: Leverages the collective purchasing power of agencies nationwide.
• Risk reduction: Vendors are already vetted with due diligence documentation on file.

How to Use One

1. Join the relevant cooperative or association – typically free and takes minutes online.
2. Review the awarded contract and its due diligence documentation.
3. Issue a purchase order referencing the contract number.
4. Engage directly with the vendor under the pre-negotiated terms.

Common Questions Leaders Ask

Most agency counsel are already familiar with cooperative purchasing – many state statutes explicitly authorize it and name specific cooperatives as approved sources. Using a cooperative contract doesn’t mean losing control: agencies retain full discretion over whether to use it and which services to purchase.

If procurement timelines have been the obstacle standing between your department and a better-administered extra duty program, a national cooperative contract may provide a faster path forward.