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What is cooperative purchasing, and what does it mean when a county says it will piggyback?

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Short answer · from the accepted reply
  • Keisha is right, a county can use cooperative purchasing, but you need to check the original contract to see if it allows other government entities to use it.
  • The original solicitation for the landscaping contract should have included language allowing other public agencies to piggyback.
  • If that language is not there, then the county cannot piggyback on it.
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A county purchasing agent told my firm last week that they want to piggyback on a neighboring county's landscaping contract. We did not bid on that original contract, but we were the second-place bidder on a recent county RFQ for similar services, NAICS 561730, so they know us. The agent said they would just "piggyback" on the other county's award with us. I am confused by this. Can a county just do that without a new bid? Are we bound by the prices from the other county's contract, even if we were not the awardee? Can we offer our own contract for them to piggyback?

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asked Jo R. Freelance proposal writer · Denver, CO · 405 rep

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Keisha is right, a county can use cooperative purchasing, but you need to check the original contract to see if it allows other government entities to use it. The original solicitation for the landscaping contract should have included language allowing other public agencies to piggyback. If that language is not there, then the county cannot piggyback on it. You cannot offer your own contract for them to piggyback on; the piggybacking must be on an existing, competitively awarded contract. The county would use the prices and terms from that original contract, which means you would be held to those rates if you agree to the work.

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answered Tom B. Construction estimator, public works · Phoenix, AZ · 225 rep
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Cooperative purchasing, also known as "piggybacking," is when one government entity uses an existing contract awarded by another government entity to procure goods or services. Yes, a county can do this without issuing a new bid, as the original contract was competitively solicited and awarded. The county would typically be bound by the pricing, terms, and conditions of the original contract, even though your firm was not the awardee on that specific contract.

State and local procurement rules vary by jurisdiction, so you would need to consult the specific state procurement portal and the county's purchasing guidelines to confirm their rules on cooperative purchasing. This practice allows government agencies to save time and resources by leveraging contracts already established by other public entities. It is important to understand that your firm would be performing under the terms of the original contract, so reviewing those terms carefully is essential. You cannot offer your own contract for them to piggyback on; the piggybacking must be on an existing, competitively awarded contract.

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answered Keisha W. Verified vendor8(a) firm founder, staffing and training · Atlanta, GA · 197 rep
This is helpful, Keisha. I'll check our state procurement portal to see if the contracts I've won are eligible for other agencies to piggyback on. Thanks for the breakdown. · Jo R. ·

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Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.

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