NJPA (National Joint Powers Alliance)

What is NJPA (National Joint Powers Alliance)?

NJPA, originally the National Joint Powers Alliance, was a national cooperative purchasing organization that facilitated streamlined procurement for government, education, and non-profit entities. Though it has been rebranded as Sourcewell, the concept of NJPA and the contracts awarded under its name still resonate within the government contracting community. It's important to understand the legacy of NJPA when encountering references to it within past solicitations and procurement practices.

Definition

The National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA), before its rebranding as Sourcewell, was a Municipal Cooperative Organization created under Minnesota Statute 123A.21. It focused on streamlining the procurement process for public agencies by aggregating demand and establishing competitively solicited and awarded contracts for a variety of products, equipment, and services. Public agencies, including government entities, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations, could become members of NJPA and utilize these pre-negotiated contracts, saving them time and resources related to the standard procurement process. NJPA acted as a conduit between contractors and these public sector purchasers, offering a convenient and compliant route to market. For government contractors, NJPA (now Sourcewell) offered an avenue to reach a large and diverse customer base with a single contract.

Key Points

• Cooperative Purchasing: NJPA (Sourcewell) operates as a cooperative, pooling the purchasing power of its members to achieve better pricing and terms.
• Streamlined Procurement: Members can bypass lengthy competitive bidding processes by using NJPA (Sourcewell) contracts.
• Legally Compliant: Contracts are competitively solicited and awarded, ensuring compliance with procurement laws and regulations.
• National Reach: NJPA (Sourcewell) membership spans across the United States, offering contractors a broad market.

Practical Examples

1. School District Purchasing Equipment: A school district needs to purchase new laptops for its students. Instead of issuing its own RFP and going through a lengthy evaluation process, the district, as a Sourcewell member, can purchase the laptops directly from a vendor who holds a Sourcewell contract for that product, saving time and administrative burden.
2. City Government Hiring a Consultant: A city government requires specialized consulting services for a transportation project. As a Sourcewell member, the city can review Sourcewell's pre-approved list of consulting firms and select one that meets their needs, leveraging the competitively bid contract already in place.
3. Non-profit Organization Buying Supplies: A non-profit organization needs to purchase office supplies and furniture. Through their Sourcewell membership, they can access discounted pricing on these items from authorized vendors.