NASPO (National Association Of State Procurement Officials)

What is NASPO (National Association Of State Procurement Officials)?

NASPO, the National Association of State Procurement Officials, is a non-profit organization that facilitates cooperative purchasing among states, territories, and the District of Columbia. For government contractors, NASPO is significant as it provides access to multi-state contracts through its cooperative purchasing arm, NASPO ValuePoint. This can streamline the bidding process and potentially expand a contractor's market reach.

Definition

NASPO's core function is to promote best practices, collaboration, and information sharing among state procurement officials. NASPO ValuePoint acts as the cooperative purchasing program, leveraging the collective buying power of participating states to negotiate favorable contract terms and pricing. These competitively bid contracts are then available for use by the states, offering contractors the opportunity to secure business across multiple jurisdictions with a single agreement. NASPO itself has no regulatory authority, but each state's procurement regulations govern how they utilize NASPO ValuePoint contracts. Understanding the specific state requirements is crucial for contractors.

Key Points

• Multi-State Opportunities: NASPO ValuePoint contracts offer contractors the potential to secure business across multiple states simultaneously, reducing the burden of pursuing individual state-level solicitations.
• Streamlined Bidding: The NASPO ValuePoint process streamlines the bidding process by establishing master agreements that participating states can then adopt, saving time and resources for both contractors and state agencies.
• Competitive Pricing: The collective buying power of the participating states allows NASPO ValuePoint to negotiate competitive pricing and favorable terms, benefiting both the states and the contractors involved.
• Compliance Considerations: Contractors must ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations when participating in NASPO ValuePoint contracts. This includes understanding each state's unique procurement rules and requirements.

Practical Examples

1. IT Solutions Provider: An IT solutions provider wins a NASPO ValuePoint contract for cybersecurity services. Participating states can then utilize this master agreement to procure cybersecurity services from the provider without issuing separate solicitations.
2. Office Supply Vendor: An office supply vendor secures a NASPO ValuePoint contract for office supplies. State agencies across multiple states can then purchase office supplies directly from the vendor at the negotiated prices.
3. Vehicle Manufacturer: A vehicle manufacturer is awarded a NASPO ValuePoint contract for fleet vehicles. States can then order vehicles from the manufacturer, leveraging the pre-negotiated pricing and terms, instead of conducting individual procurements.