REGIONAL VIEW
Education service center programs & practices
Purchasing cooperative in Texas receives national attention by Matt Koumalats
▲ Todd Merriman, TexBuy Field representative, and Andrew Pickens, Texbuy director of purchasing, pose with the 2020 AEPA Quality and Innovation Award
T
he TexBuy Purchasing Cooperative has been recognized nationally for its outstanding service. TexBuy is the statewide purchasing cooperative hosted by Region 16 Education Service Center in Amarillo. It is the sole Texas representative of the national purchasing organization AEPA (Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies). APEA chose TexBuy to receive the Quality and Innovation Award for 2020. This award recognizes TexBuy for its outstanding quality and the strength of its multiple relationships with members and vendors. TexBuy is led by Andrew Pickens, director of purchasing. “This is truly a great honor,” Pickens says. “We work hard on building relationships with our members and our vendors across the state of Texas, and it’s wonderful to be recognized by AEPA for all that hard work. I think TexBuy was chosen because of the great partnerships we have built over the years. Plus, we have a unique rebate structure that puts money back into our members budgets. Also, it never hurts that we have a knowledgeable and friendly staff. It’s their hard work that is a big part of us receiving this award.”
TexBuy can offer service to every level of education from school districts to colleges and universities. They also assist local governments and non-profit organizations of varying size. TexBuy offers its clients everything needed to keep their schools and organizations running efficiently. That includes products like artificial turf, computer software, furniture, office supplies, roofing, vehicles and much more. Many of the awarded contracts offered through TexBuy were solicited nationally by AEPA, providing the most competitive pricing available. Only one entity per state can hold the AEPA national contracts and TexBuy is that entity for the entire state of Texas. Purchasing through a cooperative helps members reduce costs and offer competitive prices. Cooperatives like TexBuy have become an essential part of doing business in today’s shifting economy. They allow businesses and nonprofits alike to do more with less by pooling buying power and negotiating for better prices across the board. AEPA has become a leading force nationally by making sure all its state representatives use their local knowledge to provide the best services to their clients. Started
in 2000, AEPA has grown to be a national leader among purchasing cooperatives. AEPA has representation in 29 states and provides services and products to nearly 25 million students. Many of the awarded contracts offered through TexBuy were solicited nationally by AEPA, providing the most competitive pricing available. “It’s the relationships that keep clients with TexBuy,” says Todd Merriman, a TexBuy field representative. “Our members know that we’ll take care of them, and that we only provide quality products and services. I think that really puts their minds at ease. We want to make the whole purchasing process as easy as possible. I believe that’s why our members and vendors keep doing business with us.” TexBuy’s national purchasing power means that any of its members can save actual budget dollars on TexBuy contracts. Membership is free and easy. Membership documents can be found on their website at www.TexBuy.net. MATT KOUMALATS is the communications and marketing specialist for the Region 16 ESC.
Texas School Business MAY / JUNE 2021
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