ARLINGTON — Thousands of local governments across the United States will gain access to more than 500 competitively awarded purchasing contracts under a new cooperative agreement announced by the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Alliance for Innovation.
The agreement, unveiled Thursday, combines the organizations’ cooperative purchasing programs into a single framework through Civic Marketplace, an online procurement platform. Officials say the partnership is intended to simplify the purchasing process for cities, counties, school districts and special districts by reducing administrative requirements and expanding access to existing contracts.
The agreement allows members of NCTCOG’s TXShare cooperative purchasing program and the Alliance for Innovation to use contracts covering technology, infrastructure, public safety, water and utility services, and professional services. Officials said all contracts were competitively solicited and awarded under applicable procurement laws.
“For too long, local governments have had to navigate separate cooperative programs and compliance processes,” said Todd Little, executive director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. “This agreement allows participating agencies to access contracts through a single platform with one login.”
The partnership operates under the Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act and other state procurement statutes, providing what organizers describe as a unified legal framework for participating agencies.
The agreement also expands access for rural communities through the East Texas Council of Governments’ COGWORKS purchasing program. Because COGWORKS already participates in TXShare, its member agencies will automatically gain access to the Alliance for Innovation’s contract portfolio without additional membership fees or paperwork.
David Cleveland, executive director of the East Texas Council of Governments, said the expanded catalog will provide smaller communities with greater purchasing flexibility.
Officials said the combined contract library is available through Civic Marketplace, where government agencies can search contracts, review procurement documentation and connect with approved vendors.
Michael Wilkes, president and CEO of the Alliance for Innovation, said the platform is intended to streamline the procurement process while broadening contract availability for member agencies.
According to the organizations, the agreement provides access to more than 500 contracts through three cooperative purchasing networks: TXShare, the Alliance for Innovation and COGWORKS. Membership in TXShare is available at no cost to eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations nationwide, and officials said participating agencies can typically complete the required interlocal agreement within one business day.
Founded in 1966, the North Central Texas Council of Governments serves a 16-county region centered on the Dallas-Fort Worth area and provides regional planning and coordination in transportation, emergency preparedness, environmental services, workforce development and other public-sector initiatives.
The Alliance for Innovation is a nonprofit organization that supports local governments through innovation, collaboration and professional development, while the East Texas Council of Governments provides regional services across 14 East Texas counties, including its COGWORKS cooperative purchasing program.
