Alabama - Click to print

State of Alabama
Title 11 Counties and Municipal Corporations
Subtitle 3 Provisions Applicable to Counties and Municipal Corporations
Chapter 102 Common Service Contracts by Counties and Municipalities

§ 11-102-1. Joint exercise of powers or services authorized.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or as otherwise prohibited by law, any county or incorporated municipality of the State of Alabama may enter into a written contract with any one or more counties or incorporated municipalities for the joint exercise of any power or service that state or local law authorizes each of the contracting entities to exercise individually. For purposes of this chapter, it is sufficient if each of the contracting entities has the authority to exercise or perform the power or service which is the subject of the contract regardless of the manner in which the power or service shall be exercised or performed, provided that at least one of the contracting parties has the authority to exercise the power or service in the manner agreed upon by the parties. The joint contract may provide for the power or service to be exercised by one or more entities on behalf of the others or jointly by the entities.

Title 41 State Government
Article 3 Competitive Bidding on Contracts of Certain State and Local Agencies, etc.
Section 41-16-50, Section 41-16-51. 

§ 41-16-50 Contracts for which competitive bidding is required.
(b) The governing bodies of two or more contracting agencies, as enumerated in subsection (a), or the governing bodies of two or more counties, or the governing bodies of two or more city or county boards of education, may provide, by joint agreement, for the purchase of labor, services, or work, or for the purchase or lease of materials, equipment, supplies, or other personal property for use by their respective agencies. The agreement shall be entered into by similar ordinances, in the case of municipalities, or resolutions, in the case of other contracting agencies, adopted by each of the participating governing bodies, which shall set forth the categories of labor, services, or work, or for the purchase or lease of materials, equipment, supplies, or other personal property to be purchased, the manner of advertising for bids and the awarding of contracts, the method of payment by each participating contracting agency, and other matters deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the agreement. Each contracting agency's share of expenditures for purchases under any agreement shall be appropriated and paid in the manner set forth in the agreement and in the same manner as for other expenses of the contracting agency. The contracting agencies entering into a joint agreement, as herein permitted, may designate a joint purchasing or bidding agent, and the agent shall comply with this article. Purchases, contracts, or agreements made pursuant to a joint purchasing or bidding agreement shall be subject to all terms and conditions of this article.

§ Section 41-16-51. Contracts for which competitive bidding not required.
(a) Competitive bids shall not be required for utility services, the rates for which are fixed by law, regulation, or ordinance, and the competitive bidding requirements of this article shall not apply to:
(16) Subject to the limitations in this subdivision, purchases of goods made as a part of the purchasing cooperative sponsored by the National Association of Counties, its successor organization, or any other competitive bid nationwide cooperative purchasing program, or other national or regional governmental cooperative purchasing program. This subdivision shall not apply to goods for which a service or service contract, whether subject to competitive bidding under this article or not, is necessary to utilize the goods. Such purchases may only be made if all of the following occur: 
a. The goods being purchased are available as a result of a competitive bid process conducted by a governmental entity and approved by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for each bid.
b. The goods are either not at the time available to counties on the state purchasing program or are available at a price equal to or less than that on the state purchasing program.
c. The purchase is made through a participating Alabama vendor holding an Alabama business license if such a vendor exists.
d. The entity purchasing goods under this subdivision has been notified by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts that the competitive bid process utilized by the cooperative program offering the goods complies with this subdivision.

Alaska - Click to print

State of Alaska
Title 36 Public Contracts
Chapter 36.30 State Procurement Code
Article 9 Intergovernmental Relations


§ 36.30.700: Cooperative purchasing authorized.
A public procurement unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of supplies, services, professional services, or construction with one or more public procurement units or external procurement activities in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Cooperative purchasing may include joint or multi-party contracts between public procurement units and open-ended state public procurement units contracts that are made available to local public procurement units.

§ 36.30.790: Definitions.

In AS 36.30.700 - 36.30.790
1) "cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, more than one public procurement
unit, or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity; 2) "external procurement activity" means a buying organization not located in this state that, if located in this state, would qualify as a public procurement unit; an agency of the United States is an external procurement activity;
3) "local public procurement unit" means a municipality or other subdivision of the state or other entity that expends public funds for the procurement of supplies, services, professional services, and construction, and any nonprofit corporation operating a charitable hospital;
4) "public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit;
5) "state public procurement unit" means the Department of Administration and any other contracting agency of the state.

Arizona - Click to print

State of Arizona
Title 11 Counties
Chapter 7 Intergovernmental Operations
Article 3 Joint Exercise of Powers


§ 11-951: Definitions
For the purposes of this article, the term "public agency" shall include the federal government or any federal department or agency Indian tribe, this state, any other state, all departments, agencies, boards and commissions of this state or any other state, counties, school districts, cities, towns, all municipal corporations, and any other political subdivisions of the state or any other state.

§ 11-952: Intergovernmental agreements and contracts
A. If authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, two or more public agencies by direct contract or agreement may contract for services or jointly exercise any powers common to the contracting parties and may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action or may form a separate legal entity, including a nonprofit corporation, to contract for or perform some or all of the services specified in the contract or agreement or exercise those powers jointly held by the contracting parties, except that if two or more school districts arrange to become contracting parties.

E. A federal department or agency or public agency of another state that is a party to an agreement or contract made pursuant to this article is not required to submit the agreement or contract to the attorney for the department or agency unless required under federal law or the law of the other state.

Arkansas - - Click to print

State of Arkansas
Arkansas Code
Title 19- Public Finance
Chapter 11- Purchasing and Contracts
Subchapter 2- Arkansas Procurement Law

§ 19-11-206: Definitions concerning intergovernmental relations.
1. "Cooperative procurement" means procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, more than one (1) public procurement unit or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity;

2. (A) "External procurement activity" means any buying organization not located in this state which, if located in this state, would qualify as a public procurement unit.
(B) An agency of the federal government is an external procurement activity
3. "Local public procurement unit" means:
A. Any county, city, town, state agency, and any other subdivision of the state or public agency thereof;
B. Any fire protection district;
C. Any regional water distribution district;
D. Any rural development authority;
E. Any public authority;
F. Any public educational, health, or other institution;
G. Any nonprofit corporation during the time that it contracts with the Department of Human Services to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities or for transportation services, so long as the contract exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per year;
H. Any nonprofit corporation providing fire protection services to a rural area or providing drinking water to the public in a rural area; and
I. To the extent not prohibited by law, any other entity that expends public funds for the acquisition or leasing of commodities and services;
4. "Public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit; and

5. "State public procurement unit" means the Office of State Procurement and any other procurement agency of this state.


§ 19-11-249: Cooperative purchasing.
When an agency that is subject to Arkansas Procurement Law seeks to participate in a cooperative purchasing agreement that is administered by a public procurement unit or external procurement activity that is not subject to Arkansas Procurement Law, it will first need to submit the cooperative purchasing agreement to the State Procurement Director for a determination as required by A.C.A. § 19-11-256(b) and these rules. In seeking the determination from the State Procurement Director, the agency must include a verifiable economic justification as to why using the cooperative purchasing agreement is more cost effective or likely to realize savings than conducting a solicitation. If a determination has already been made with respect to a cooperative purchasing agreement, any other public procurement unit may rely on that determination.

California - Click to print

State of California
California Government Code
Title 1 General Provisions
Division 7 Miscellaneous
Chapter 5 Joint Exercise of Powers
Article 1 Joint Powers Agreements


§ 6500 Gov't.
As used in this article, "public agency" includes, but is not limited to, the federal government or any federal department or agency, this state, another state or any state department or agency, a county, county board of education, county superintendent of schools, city, public corporation, public district, regional transportation commission of this state or another state, or any joint powers authority formed pursuant to this article by any of these agencies.

§ 6502 Gov't.
If authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, two or more public agencies by agreement may jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, even though one or more of the contracting agencies may be located outside this state. It shall not be necessary that any power common to the contracting parties be exercisable by each such contracting party with respect to the geographical area in which such power is to be jointly exercised. For purposes of this section, two or more public agencies having the power to conduct agricultural, livestock, industrial, cultural, or other fairs or exhibitions shall be deemed to have common power with respect to any such fair or exhibition conducted by any one or more of such public agencies or by an entity created pursuant to a joint powers agreement entered into by such public agencies.

Colorado - Click to print

State of Colorado
Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 24 Government – State
Procurement Code Section
Article 110 Intergovernmental Relations


§ 24-110-301: Definitions.
 (12) "Cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, more than one public procurement unit or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement unit.  (17) "External procurement unit" means any buying organization not located in this state which, if located in this state, would qualify as a public procurement unit. An external procurement unit includes any purchasing cooperative that satisfies the purposes of this code as set forth in section 24-101-102. An agency of the United States is an external procurement unit.  ) "Local public procurement unit" means any county, city, county and city, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state, any public agency of any such political subdivision, any public authority, any educational, health, or other institution, and, to the extent provided by law, any other entity which expends public funds for the procurement of supplies, services, and construction.  (33) "Public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit.

§ 24-110-201: Cooperative purchasing authorized.
(1) Any public procurement unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies, services, or construction with one or more public procurement units, external procurement activities, or procurement consortiums which include as members tax-exempt organizations as defined by section 501 (c)(3) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint or multiparty contracts between public procurement units and open-ended state public procurement unit contracts which are made available to local public procurement units.

Connecticut - Click to print

State of Connecticut
Connecticut Statutes
Title 7 Municipalities
Chapter 98 Municipal Powers

§ Sec. 7-148cc: Joint performance of municipal functions.
Two or more municipalities may jointly perform any function that each municipality may perform separately under any provisions of the general statutes or of any special act, charter or home rule ordinance. Each participating municipality shall approve any agreement entered into pursuant to this section in the same manner as an ordinance is approved in such participating municipality or, if no ordinances are approved by such participating municipality, in the same manner as the budget is approved. The terms of each agreement shall establish a process for withdrawal from such agreement and shall require that the agreement be reviewed at least once every five years by the body that approved the agreement to assess the effectiveness of such agreement in enhancing the performance of the function that is the subject of the agreement. As used in this section, "municipality" means any municipality, as defined in section 7-187, or any district, as defined in section 7-324, located within the state of Connecticut.

Connecticut Statutes
Title 7 Municipalities
Chapter 99 Municipal Charters and Special Acts

§ Sec. 7-187: Definitions.
Whenever used in sections 7-188 to 7-193, inclusive:

(a) "Appointing authority" means the body having authority to appoint a charter commission, charter revision commission or home rule ordinance revision commission, which shall be the board of selectmen of a town not having a council or board of directors, the council or board of directors of a town having such a council or board, the common council or other body empowered to make ordinances of a city or the board of burgesses of a borough;

(b) “Commission" means any such charter commission, charter revision commission, or home rule ordinance revision commission;

(c) "Home rule ordinance" means any ordinance or resolution which has been adopted by a municipality prior to October 1,1982, in substitution for a special act relating to its government, which ordinance or resolution may contain the provisions of such special act with or without amendments and which ordinance or resolution shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution of the state or the general statutes;

(d) "Municipality" means a town, city, borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.
Connecticut Statutes
Title 4a Administrative Services
Chapter 58 Purchasing and Printing

§ Sec. 4a-53 (Formerly Sec. 4-110c): Cooperative purchasing plans. Purchase from person having contract to sell to other governmental or nonprofit entities or public purchasing consortia.

(a) The Commissioner of Administrative Services may join with federal agencies, other state governments, political subdivisions of this state or nonprofit organizations in cooperative purchasing plans when the best interests of the state would be served thereby.

(b) The state, through the Commissioner of Administrative Services, may purchase equipment, supplies, materials and services from a person who has a contract to sell such property or services to other state governments, political subdivisions of this state, nonprofit organizations or public purchasing consortia, in accordance with the terms and conditions of such contract.

(c) The Commissioner of Administrative Services, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental protection and within available appropriations, shall make known to the chief executive officer of each municipality the existence of cooperative plans for the purchase of recycled paper.

(1969, P.A. 433; P.A. 77-408; 77-614, S. 91, 610; P.A. 90-224, S. 10; P.A. 10-3, S. 14.)

History: P.A. 77-408 included nonprofit organizations under provisions of section; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of administrative services for director of purchases; Sec. 4-110c transferred to Sec. 4a-53 in 1989; P.A. 90-224 added Subsec. (b) re notification of existence of cooperative plans for recycled paper; P.A. 10-3 added new Subsec. (b) allowing state to purchase equipment, supplies, materials and services from person with contract for sale of such property or services to other governmental or nonprofit entities or public purchasing consortia, in accordance with such contract, and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c), effective April 14, 2010.

Delaware - Click to print

State of Delaware
Delaware Code
Title 29 State Government
Chapter 69. State Procurement
Subchapter III. Material and Nonprofessional Services

§ 29 Del. C. § 6933. Authorization for cooperative purchasing.
(a) The Section may, with written approval of the Director, participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of materiel or nonprofessional services with 1 or more public procurement units either within the State or within another state in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants.

Delaware Code
Title 29 State Government
Chapter 69. State Procurement
Subchapter VI. Professional Services
§ 29 Del. C. § 6987. Cooperative procurement.
An agency may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative agreement for the procurement of professional services with 1 or more public procurement units either within this State, with or within another state, or with a consortium of other states in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such agreement may include material and/or nonprofessional services with professional services. The other provisions of this subchapter shall not apply when an agency participates in an existing cooperative agreement for the procurement of professional services with a contractor holding a current contract as part of such cooperative agreement.

District of Columbia - Click to print

State of District of Columbia
District of Columbia Code
Division I Government of District
Title 2 Government Administration
Chapter 3 Procurement
Unit A Procurement Practices for the District Government
Subchapter XI Miscellaneous


§ 2-311.02. District of Columbia Supply Schedule Sales Discount and Operating Fund [Formerly § 1-1191.2]


(a) The Director shall be authorized and encouraged to participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer cooperative purchasing agreements with any state, county, or municipal jurisdiction for the purpose of procuring supplies and services, which shall include construction services or architectural and engineering services related to construction repairs, upgrades, restoration, alteration, and reconstruction of existing buildings and facilities. Cooperative purchasing agreements entered into by the District government shall be in accordance with, to the extent practicable, all laws, statutes, and regulations of the District government with respect to contracting, and shall not be inconsistent with laws, statutes, and regulations of the United States government that apply specifically to the District.


(b) The District government may not participate in any cooperative purchasing agreement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that does not mandate minimum local, small, or disadvantaged business participation levels equal to those required by subchapter IX-A of Chapter 2 of this title.


(c) Cooperative purchasing agreements may include, but not be limited to, the following:


(1) Agreements for the cooperative purchasing of supplies and services;


(2) Agreements for the sale, purchase, or use of property belonging to either the District or a neighboring jurisdiction;


(3) Agreements for the common use of facilities or equipment;


(4) Agreements for automated databases; or


(5) Agreements for construction services or architectural and engineering services related to the repair, upgrade, restoration, alteration and reconstruction of buildings and facilities.


(d) No agency shall enter into or participate in a cooperative purchasing agreement unless that participation is authorized by the Director pursuant to the District Government Procurement Regulations.

Florida - Click to print

State of Florida
Title XI County Organization and Intergovernmental Relations
Chapter 163 Intergovernmental Programs
Part I Miscellaneous Programs

§ 163.01: Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969.
(1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969.”
(2) It is the purpose of this section to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

(3)As used in this section:

(a) “Interlocal agreement” means an agreement entered into pursuant to this section.
(b) “Public agency” means a political subdivision, agency, or officer of this state or of any state of the United States, including, but not limited to, state government, county, city, school district, single and multipurpose special district, single and multipurpose public authority, metropolitan or consolidated government, a separate legal entity or administrative entity created under subsection (7), an independently elected county officer, any agency of the United States Government, a federally recognized Native American tribe, and any similar entity of any other state of the United States.
(c)“State” means a state of the United States.
(e)“Person” means:
1.Any natural person;
2.The United States; any state; any municipality, political subdivision, or municipal corporation created by or pursuant to the laws of the United States or any state; or any board, corporation, or other entity or body declared by or pursuant to the laws of the United States or any state to be a department, agency, or instrumentality thereof;
3.Any corporation, not-for-profit corporation, firm, partnership, cooperative association, electric cooperative, or business trust of any nature whatsoever which is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state; or
4.Any foreign country; any political subdivision or governmental unit of a foreign country; or any corporation, not-for-profit corporation, firm, partnership, cooperative association, electric cooperative, or business trust of any nature whatsoever which is organized and existing under the laws of a foreign country or of a political subdivision or governmental unit thereof.
(f)“Electric utility” has the same meaning as in s. 361.11(2).

(g) “Foreign public utility” means any person whose principal location or principal place of business is not located within this state; who owns, maintains, or operates facilities for the generation, transmission, or distribution of electrical energy; and who supplies electricity to retail or wholesale customers, or both, on a continuous, reliable, and dependable basis. “Foreign public utility” also means any affiliate or subsidiary of such person, the business of which is limited to the generation or transmission, or both, of electrical energy and activities reasonably incidental thereto.
(h)“Local government liability pool” means a reciprocal insurer as defined in s. 629.021 or any self-insurance program created pursuant to s. 768.28(16), formed and controlled by counties or municipalities of this state to provide liability insurance coverage for counties, municipalities, or other public agencies of this state, which pool may contract with other parties for the purpose of providing claims administration, processing, accounting, and other administrative facilities.
(4)A public agency of this state may exercise jointly with any other public agency of the state, of any other state, or of the United States Government any power, privilege, or authority which such agencies share in common and which each might exercise separately.

(7) (e) 6. The participation by any county, municipality, or other public agency of this state in a local government liability pool shall not be deemed a waiver of immunity to the extent of liability coverage, nor shall any contract entered regarding such a local government liability pool be required to contain any provision for waiver.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, any separate legal entity, created pursuant to the provisions of this section, wholly owned by the municipalities or counties of this state, the membership of which consists or is to consist only of municipalities or counties of this state, may exercise the right and power of eminent domain, including the procedural powers under chapters 73 and 74, if such right and power is granted to such entity by the interlocal agreement creating the entity.
(15) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of any other law except s. 361.14, any public agency of this state which is an electric utility, or any separate legal entity created pursuant to the provisions of this section, the membership of which consists only of electric utilities, and which exercises or proposes to exercise the powers granted by part II of chapter 361, the Joint Power Act, may exercise any or all of the following powers:
(a) Any such public agency or legal entity, or both, may plan, finance, acquire, construct, reconstruct, own, lease, operate, maintain, repair, improve, extend, or otherwise participate jointly in one or more electric projects, which are proposed, existing, or under construction and which are located or to be located within or without this state, with any one or more of the following:
1.Any such legal entity;
2.One or more electric utilities;
3.One or more foreign public utilities; or
4.Any other person,
(k) The limitations on waiver in the provisions of s. 768.28 or any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, The Legislature, in accordance with s. 13, Art. X of the State Constitution, hereby declares that any such legal entity or any public agency of this state that participates in any electric project waives its sovereign immunity to:
1.All other persons participating therein; and
2.Any person in any manner contracting with a legal entity of which any such public agency is a member, with relation to:
a.Ownership, operation, or any other activity set forth in sub-subparagraph (b)2.d. with relation to any electric project; or
b.The supplying or purchasing of services, output, capacity, energy, or any combination thereof.

Georgia - Click to print

State of Georgia
Constitution of the State of Georgia
Article IX Counties & Municipal Corporations
Section III Intergovernmental Relations

Paragraph I: Intergovernmental contracts

(a) The state, or any institution, department, or other agency thereof, and any county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state may contract for any period not exceeding 50 years with each other or with any other public agency, public corporation, or public authority for joint services, for the provision of services, or for the joint or separate use of facilities or equipment; but such contracts must deal with activities, services, or facilities which the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide. By way of specific instance and not limitation, a mutual undertaking by a local government entity to borrow and an undertaking by the state or a state authority to lend funds from and to one another for water or sewerage facilities or systems or for regional or multijurisdictional solid waste recycling or solid waste facilities or systems pursuant to law shall be a provision for services and an activity within the meaning of this Paragraph.

(b) Subject to such limitations as may be provided by general law, any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof may, in connection with any contracts authorized in this Paragraph, convey any existing facilities or equipment to the state or to any public agency, public corporation, or public authority.

(c) Any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, may contract with any public agency, public corporation, or public authority for the care, maintenance, and hospitalization of its indigent sick and may as a part of such contract agree to pay for the cost of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repairs of necessary land, buildings, and facilities by such public agency, public corporation, or public authority and provide for the payment of such services and the cost to such public agency, public corporation, or public authority of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repair of land, buildings, and facilities from revenues realized by such county, municipality, or any combination thereof from any taxes authorized by this Constitution or revenues derived from any other source.


The Georgia Code
TITLE 36. Local Government
Provisions Applicable to Counties and Municipal Corporations
Chapter 69A. Interlocal Cooperation 

§ 36-69A-4. Joint exercise of powers, privileges, or authority; agreements with public agencies of other states; required information and provisions; limitations on contracts

(a) Any power or powers, privileges, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. The authority for joint or cooperative action of political subdivisions shall apply to powers, privileges, or authority vested in, funded by, or under control of their governing bodies.

(b) Any public agency in this state may enter into agreements with a public agency in another state for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. Appropriate action of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies by resolution or otherwise pursuant to law shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force. Any such agreement shall be subject to the requirements provided by the Constitution and general laws of this state with respect to intergovernmental contracts.

Hawaii - Click to print

State of Hawaii
Division 1. Government
Title 9 Public Property, Purchasing and Contracting
Chapter 103D Hawaii Public Procurement Code
Part VIII Government Relations and Cooperative Purchasing


§ 103D-801: Definitions

As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise:

- "Cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by a public or external procurement unit with one or more public procurement units, external procurement units, or nonprofit private procurement units, pursuant to this chapter.
- "External procurement unit" means any buying organization not located in this State which, if located in this State, would qualify as a public procurement unit. An agency of the United States is an external procurement unit.
- "Local public procurement unit" means any county of the State or public agency of any county, public authority, educational, health, or other institution, and to the extent provided by law, any other entity which expends public funds for the procurement of goods, services, and construction.
- "Nonprofit private procurement unit" means a nonprofit health or human services organization that receives public funds to provide services to the public.
- "Public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit.
- "State public procurement unit" means the office of the chief procurement officer and any other purchasing agency of this State.

§ 103D-802: Cooperative purchasing authorized

A public procurement unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of goods, services, or construction with one or more public procurement units, external procurement units, or nonprofit private procurement units pursuant to rules adopted by the policy board and an agreement entered into between the participants. The cooperative purchasing may include, but shall not be limited to, joint or multi-party contracts between public procurement units, and state public procurement unit requirements contracts which are made available to local public procurement units. Cooperative purchasing agreements may be exempt from preferences pursuant to part X.

Idaho - Click to print

State of Idaho
Idaho Statutes
Title 67 State Government and State Affairs
Chapter 23 Miscellaneous Provisions


§ 67-2326: Joint action by public agencies — Purpose.

It is the purpose of this act to permit the state and public agencies to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate to their mutual advantage and thereby provide services and facilities and perform functions in a manner that will best accord with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of the respective entities.


§ 67-2327: Definitions.

"Public agency" means any city or political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to counties; school districts; highway districts; and port authorities; instrumentalities of counties, cities or any political subdivision created under the laws of the state of Idaho; any agency of the state government; and any city or political subdivision of another state.

"State" means a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.


§ 67-2328: Joint exercise of powers.

(a) Any power, privilege or authority, authorized by the Idaho Constitution, statute or charter, held by the state of Idaho or a public agency of said state, may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with the state of Idaho or any other public agency of this state having the same powers, privilege or authority; but never beyond the limitation of such powers, privileges or authority; and the state or public agency of the state, may exercise such powers, privileges and authority jointly with the United States, any other state, or public agency of any of them, to the extent that the laws of the United States or sister state, grant similar powers, privileges or authority, to the United States and its public agencies, or to the sister state and its public agencies; and provided the laws of the United States or a sister state allow such exercise of joint power, privilege or authority. The state or any public agency thereof when acting jointly with another public agency of this state may exercise and enjoy the power, privilege and authority conferred by this act; but nothing in this act shall be construed to extend the jurisdiction, power, privilege or authority of the state or public agency thereof, beyond the power, privilege or authority said state or public agency might have if acting alone.

(b) Any state or public agency may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action which includes, but is not limited to, joint use, ownership and/or operation agreements pursuant to the provisions of this act. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution, or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of these participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

Illinois - Click to print

State of Illinois
Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 5 General Provisions
Act 220 Intergovernmental Cooperation Act


§ 5 ILCS 220/2

Sec. 2: Definitions. For the purpose of this Act:

1. The term "public agency" shall mean any unit of local government as defined in the Illinois Constitution of 1970, any school district, any public community college district, any public building commission, the State of Illinois, any agency of the State government or of the United States, or of any other State, any political subdivision of another State, and any combination of the above pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement which includes provisions for a governing body of the agency created by the agreement. For the purposes of this Act, "public agency" includes the Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District created under the Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District Act.

2. The term "state" shall mean a state of the United States.


§ 5 ILCS 220/3

Sec. 3: Intergovernmental cooperation.

Any power or powers, privileges, functions, or authority exercised or which may be exercised by a public agency of this State may be exercised, combined, transferred, and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this State and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States do not prohibit joint exercise or enjoyment and except where specifically and expressly prohibited by law. This includes, but is not limited to, (i) arrangements between the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and agencies in other states which issue professional licenses and (ii) agreements between the Illinois Department of Public Aid and public agencies for the establishment and enforcement of child support orders and for the exchange of information that may be necessary for the enforcement of those child support orders.

Indiana - Click to print

State of Indiana
Title 36 Local Government
Article 1 General Provisions
Chapter 7 Interlocal Cooperation


§ IC 36-1-7-1 Application of chapter

Sec. 1. This chapter applies to the following:

(1) The state.
(2) All political subdivisions.
(3) All state agencies.
(4) Any of the following created by state law:
(a) Public instrumentalities.
(b) Public corporate bodies.
(5) Another state to the extent authorized by the law of that state.
(6) Political subdivisions of states other than Indiana, to the extent authorized by laws of the other states.
(7) Agencies of the federal government, to the extent authorized by federal laws.

§ IC 36-1-7-2 Permissible powers
Sec. 2. (a) A power that may be exercised by an Indiana political subdivision and by one (1) or more other governmental entities may be exercised:

(1) by one (1) or more entities on behalf of others; or
(2) jointly by the entities.

Entities that want to do this must, by ordinance or resolution, enter into a written agreement under section 3 or 9 of this chapter.

Iowa - Click to print

State of Iowa
Iowa Code
Title I State Sovereignty and Management
Subtitle 10. Joint Governmental Activity
Chapter 28E Joint Exercise of Governmental Powers


§ 28E.1: Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to permit state and local governments in Iowa to make efficient use of their powers by enabling them to provide joint services and facilities with other agencies and to cooperate in other ways of mutual advantage. This chapter shall be liberally construed to that end.

§ 28E.2: Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "public agency" shall mean any political subdivision of this state; any agency of the state government or of the United States; and any political subdivision of another state. The term "state" shall mean a state of the United States and the District of Columbia. The term "private agency" shall mean an individual and any form of business organization authorized under the laws of this or any other state

§ 28E.3: Joint exercise of powers

Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state having such power or powers, privilege or authority, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency.

Kansas - Click to print

State of Kansas
Kansas Statutes
Chapter 12 Cities and Municipalities
Article 29 Interlocal Cooperation


§ 12-2901.Purpose of act. It is the purpose of this act to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities, persons, associations and corporations on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.


§ 12-2903.Definitions. As used in the interlocal cooperation act:

(a)"Public agency" means:
(1) Any county, township, city, school district, library district, road district, drainage district, sewer district, water district or fire district;
(2)any entity created pursuant to K.S.A. 12-2901 et seq. or chapter 72 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto;
(3)any other municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation or political subdivision of this state or of any other state which is not specified in paragraphs (1) and (2);
(4)any state officer; and
(5)any agency or instrumentality of this state or any other state or of the United States.

(b)"State" means a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(c)"Private agency" means an individual, firm, association or corporation.

(d)"State officer" shall mean the governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner of the state of Kansas.

§ 12-2904.Interlocal agreements by public agencies; specifications; approval of attorney general, exceptions.
(a) Subject to the limitations of subsection (g), any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state including but not limited to those functions relating to economic development, public improvements, public utilities, police protection, public security, public safety and emergency preparedness, including but not limited to, intelligence, antiterrorism and disaster recovery, libraries, data processing services, educational services, building and related inspection services, flood control and storm water drainage, weather modification, sewage disposal, refuse disposal, park and recreational programs and facilities, ambulance service, fire protection, the Kansas tort claims act or claims for civil rights violations, may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state or with any private agency, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that the laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public or private agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this act upon a public agency.

(b)Any public agency may enter into agreements with one or more public or private agencies for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this act. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

Kentucky - Click to print

State of Kentucky
Kentucky Revised Statutes
Title VI Financial Administration
Chapter 45A Kentucky Model Procurement Code


§ 45A.295: Definitions for terms used in KRS 45A.295 to 45A.320.

As used in KRS 45A.295 to 45A.320:

(1) "State public purchasing unit" shall mean the Finance and Administration Cabinet and any other purchasing agency of this Commonwealth.

(2) "Local public purchasing unit" shall mean any county, city, governmental entity and other subdivision of the Commonwealth or public agency thereof, public authority, public educational, health, or other institution, any other entity which expends public funds for the acquisition or leasing of supplies, services, and construction, and any nonprofit corporation operating a charitable hospital.

(3) "Public purchasing unit" shall mean either a local public purchasing unit or a state public purchasing unit.

(4) "Foreign purchasing activity" shall mean any buying organization not located in this Commonwealth which, if located in this Commonwealth, would qualify as a public purchasing unit. An agency of the United States government is a foreign purchasing activity.

(5) "Cooperative purchasing" shall mean purchasing conducted by, or on behalf of, more than one (1) public purchasing unit, or by a public purchasing unit with a foreign purchasing activity.


§ 45A.300: Cooperative purchasing.

(1) Any public purchasing unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the acquisition of any supplies, services, or construction with any other public purchasing unit or foreign purchasing activity, in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. This cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint contracts between public purchasing units and access by local public purchasing units to open-ended state public purchasing unit contracts.

(2) Nothing in this code shall limit any public purchasing unit from selling to, acquiring from, or using any property belonging to another public purchasing unit or foreign purchasing activity independent of the requirements of KRS 45A.070 to 45A.180.

(3) Nothing in this code shall limit or restrict any public purchasing unit from entering into an agreement, independent of the requirements of KRS 45A.045(5) and KRS 45A.070 to 45A.165, with any other public purchasing unit or foreign purchasing activity for the cooperative use of supplies or services.

(4) Any public purchasing unit may enter into an agreement for the joint or common use of warehousing facilities or the lease or common use of capital equipment or facilities with any other public purchasing unit or a foreign purchasing activity subject to the terms as may be agreed upon between the parties.

(5) Nothing in this code shall limit or restrict the ability of local school districts to acquire supplies outside of the public purchasing agreements when the supplies and equipment meeting the same specifications as the contract items are available at a lower price elsewhere and the purchase does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

(6) Nothing in this code shall limit any public purchasing unit from receiving notice of or accepting a price reduction on supplies or equipment when the supplies or equipment are being offered by the vendor with whom a price agreement has been made; the supplies or equipment are being offered in accordance with all terms and conditions that are specified in the price agreement, except those relating to price; and the price reduction is offered to all of the participants in the price agreement. Public purchasing units may accept special price reductions under this subsection even if the reduced price requires the purchase of a specified quantity of units different from the quantity stated in the original price agreement. Price reductions under this subsection shall not be considered to permanently alter the price of the supplies or equipment under the price agreement with the Commonwealth, except where the price reductions are to be made permanent under the express terms of the price agreement and where the purchasing agency which solicited the price agreement determines that the enforcement of those terms serves the best interest of the Commonwealth.



Kentucky Revised Statutes
Title IX Counties, Cities and Other Local Units
Chapter 65 General Provisions Applicable to Counties, Cities, and Local Units


§ 65.220: Purpose of KRS 65.210 to 65.300.

It is the purpose of KRS 65.210 to 65.300 to permit local governmental units and the sheriff upon approval of the fiscal court to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

§ 65.230: Definition of "public agency" for KRS 65.210 to 65.300.

As used in KRS 65.210 to 65.300, unless the context otherwise requires, "public agency" means any political subdivision of this state, any agency of the state government or of the United States, a sheriff, any county or independent school district, and any political subdivision of another state. It also means a state-supported or private institution of higher education and a county or independent public school district for the purposes of entering into a joint agreement to establish and operate a program or facility, including a center for child learning and study, designed to help one (1) or more schools meet any of the goals set forth in KRS 158.6451, or for the investment of funds. If a private institution of higher education proposes to participate in an agreement pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, the Attorney General shall determine if the proposal is compatible with the United States Constitution, as part of the review of the agreement provided in KRS 65.260(2).

§ 65.240: Joint exercise of power by state agencies with other public agencies.

(1) Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that the laws of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by KRS 65.210 to 65.300 upon a public agency.

(2) Any two (2) or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of KRS 65.210 to 65.300. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or otherwise pursuant to law, of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

(3) A state-supported institution of higher education and one (1) or more county or independent public school districts may enter into agreements under KRS 65.210 to 65.300 for the purposes specified in KRS 65.230, notwithstanding any other provision of the statutes restricting, qualifying or limiting their authority to do so.

Louisiana - Click to print

State of Louisiana
Louisiana Revised Statutes
Title 39 Public Finance
Subtitle III. General Laws on State Debt
Chapter 17. Louisiana Procurement Code
Part VII Intergovernmental Relations

ADMIN. CODE TIT. 34 §2705. Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in Form of Open-Ended State Contract

§ 39:1701: Definitions of terms used in this Part
(1) "Cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by or on behalf of more than one public procurement unit or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity or by a private procurement unit.
(2) "External procurement activity" means any buying organization not located in this state which, if located in this state, would qualify as a public procurement unit. An agency of the United States government is an external procurement activity.
(3) "Local public procurement unit" means any parish, city, town, governmental body, and any other subdivision of the state or public agency thereof, public authority, public educational, health, or other institution, and to the extent provided by law, any other entity which expends public funds for the acquisition or leasing of supplies, services, major repairs, and construction, and any nonprofit corporation operating a charitable hospital.
(4) "Private procurement unit" means any independent institution of higher education in this state.
(5) "Public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit.
(6) "State public procurement unit" means the central purchasing agency and any other purchasing agency of this state.


§ 39:1702: Cooperative purchasing authorized; participation in federal General Services Administration vendor list
A. (1) Any public procurement unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the acquisition of any supplies, services, major repairs, or construction with one or more public procurement units or external procurement activities or one or more private procurement units in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such cooperative purchasing may include but is not limited to joint or multi-party contracts between public procurement units and open-ended state public procurement unit contracts which are made available to local public procurement units.
B. (1) A private procurement unit acquiring supplies through cooperative purchasing shall acquire such supplies for its own use and not for the purpose of resale in competition with private enterprise.
(2) A private procurement unit shall certify to the vendor with each order that the supplies covered thereby are to be acquired for its own use and not for the purpose of resale in competition with private enterprise and shall provide a copy of such certification to the Central Purchasing Agency within the Division of Administration.


§ 39:1704: Cooperative use of supplies or services.
Any public procurement unit may enter into an agreement, independent of the requirements of Part III of this Chapter or Title 38, with any other public procurement unit or external procurement activity for the cooperative use of supplies or services, under the terms agreed upon between the parties.

State of Louisiana
Louisiana Revised Statutes
Title 38 Public Contracts
Chapter 20 Intermodal Transportation Act 

§ 38:3383: Cooperative Endeavors
Any state agency, any parish or municipal governing authority, any regional governing authority, and the governing authority of any airport or deep draft or shallow draft port may engage in one or more cooperative endeavors under the provisions of Article VII, Section 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, among themselves for the purposes of this Chapter.


Louisiana Constitution
Article 7.14 (C) Cooperative Endeavors:
For a public purpose, the state and its political subdivisions or political corporations may engage in cooperative endeavors with each other, with the United States or its agencies, or with any public or private association, corporation, or individual

Maine - Click to print

State of Maine
Maine Revised Statutes
Title 30-A Municipalities and Counties
Part 2 Municipalities
Subpart 2 Organization and Interlocal Corporation
Chapter 115: Interlocal Cooperation Heading


§ 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2201: Purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter to permit public agencies of the State or any adjoining state, including but not limited to municipalities, counties and school administrative units, and federal agencies and Indian tribes and their political subdivisions to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities within the State in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of communities.

§ 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2202: Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
1. Public agency. "Public agency" means:
A. Any political subdivision of the State, as defined in section 2252, or any adjoining state; or
B. Repealed
C. Any agency of State Government or the Federal Government.

2. Party. "Party" means a public agency or the following federally recognized Indian tribes or their political
subdivisions:
A. The Passamaquoddy Tribe; and
B. The Penobscot Nation.


§ 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2252: "Political subdivision" defined

"Political subdivision" means any municipality, plantation, county, quasi-municipal corporation and special purpose district, including, but not limited to, any water district, sanitary district, hospital district, municipal transmission and distribution utility and school administrative unit. "School administrative unit" has the same meaning as found in Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 26.

§ 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2203: Joint exercise of powers

Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a party to an agreement under this chapter may be exercised and enjoyed jointly or cooperatively with any other party to the extent that federal laws, when applicable, permit the joint or cooperative exercise. When acting jointly or cooperatively with any party, any agency of State Government may exercise all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency.

Maryland - Click to print

State of Maryland
State Finance and Procurement
Division 2 Procurement
Title 13 Source Selection for Procurement Contracts
Subtitle 1 Methods for Selecting Procurement Sources

§ 13-110 STATE FIN. & PROC: Procurement by intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement.
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Cooperative entity” means one or more State or local entities that enter into an agreement for the cooperative or joint administration of programs.
(3) “Governmental entity” means:
(i) the federal government or an agency or other instrumentality of the federal government;
(ii) another state or an agency or other instrumentality of another state;
(iii) a bistate or multistate agency;
(iv) a county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State or of another state, or an agency or other instrumentality of the political subdivision;
(v) a bicounty or multicounty agency;
(vi) a primary procurement unit; or
(vii) an affiliation, alliance, consortium, or group composed solely of governmental entities that is established for purposes of promoting intergovernmental cooperative purchasing.
(4) “Intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement” means a contract:
(i) 1. entered into by at least one governmental entity and a person selected in a manner that is consistent with the purposes set forth under § 11–201 of this article;
2. that is available for use by the governmental entity entering the contract and at least one additional governmental entity which may, but need not be, an original party to the contract; and
3. that is intended to promote efficiency and savings that can result from intergovernmental cooperative purchasing; or
(ii) between a primary procurement unit and a person who, at the time the intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement is awarded, has a contract with the federal government or an agency or other instrumentality of the federal government, and who agrees to provide the unit with identical prices, terms, and conditions as stipulated in the federal contract.
(5) (i) “Local entity” means a county, municipal corporation, bicounty or multicounty agency, public authority, special taxing district, or other political subdivision or unit of a political subdivision of this State.
(ii) “Local entity” includes boards of education and library boards that receive funding from the State.
(6) “Not–for–profit entity” means a corporation incorporated in the State, or otherwise qualified to do business in the State that has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3), (4), or (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(7) “State entity” means a department, board, commission, agency, or a subunit in the Executive branch of State government.
(b) (1) Subject to § 12–107 of this article, whenever a primary procurement unit procurement officer determines that it is in the best interest of the State to sponsor or participate in an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement, with the approval of the unit head and subject to any other approval required by law, the primary procurement unit may become a party to or participate under the agreement.

(2) A determination under this subsection shall be in writing and include a statement that the intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement:
(i) will provide cost benefits to the State, promote administrative efficiencies, or promote intergovernmental cooperation; and
(ii) is not intended to evade the purposes of this Division II.
(3) If a primary procurement unit sponsors an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement:
(i) the contract shall be awarded in the same manner as the contract would be awarded under this Division II if the unit was the sole participant under the contract; and
(ii) all procedures under this Division II, including procedures governing contract claims and protests, shall apply.
(4) If a primary procurement unit participates in an intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement, any protest or contract claim involving the agreement shall be handled in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each procurement contract for supplies or services entered into by a State or local entity shall include a provision that facilitates other State and local entities and not–for–profit entities to participate in the contract.
(2) (i) This subsection does not apply to:
1. a procurement for a capital facility, improvement, or other unique purchase; or
2. a procurement with a projected value of less than $100,000.
(ii) This subsection does not apply if the State or local entity determines that including the provision would:
1. undermine the desired timing or effect of the procurement;
2. interfere with the State or local entity’s ability to meet:
A. the minority business enterprise goals provided under § 14–302 of this article or any other minority business enterprise program sponsored by the local entity; or
B. the Small Business Reserve Program requirements under § 14–502 of this article or any other small business procurement program sponsored by the local entity; or
3. not be in the best interest of the entity.

(d) (1) A State or local entity may enter into an agreement for the cooperative or joint administration of programs with one or more other State or local entities.
(2) A cooperative entity established under this section may administer the programs and exercise the powers and duties specifically delegated to the cooperative entity by the agreement that established the cooperative entity.
(3) An agreement described under this subsection does not relieve a State or local entity or other participant of the agreement from any obligation or responsibility imposed on the entity by law.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, a local entity may participate in an existing State or local contract drafted in accordance with this section, if the governing body of the entity determines that participation would:
1. provide a cost savings in purchase price or administrative burden; or
2. further other policy goals including operational and energy–efficiency goals related to the purchase, operation, or maintenance of the supply or service.

Massachusetts - Click to print

State of Massachusetts
General Laws of Massachusetts
Part I Administration of the Government
Title III Laws Relating to State Officers
Chapter 30B. Uniform Procurement Act

G.L.c. 30B, § 1: Application of chapter.

(a) This chapter shall apply to every contract for the procurement of supplies, services or real property and for disposing of supplies or real property by a governmental body as defined herein. (b) This chapter shall not apply to:
(3) an intergovernmental agreement subject to the provisions of section four A of chapter forty;


G.L.c. 30B, § 2: Definitions

"Cooperative purchasing", procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, more than 1 public procurement unit or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity.
"External procurement activity", (a) a public agency not located in the commonwealth which would qualify as a public procurement unit; (b) buying by the United States government.
"Local public procurement unit", a political subdivision or unit thereof which expends public funds for the procurement of supplies.
"Public procurement unit", a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit.
"State public procurement unit", the offices of the chief procurement officers and any other purchasing agency of the commonwealth or any other state.

G.L.C. 30B, § 22 Cooperative purchasing agreements between public procurement units or public procurement unit and external procurement activity.
A public procurement unit may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of supplies with public procurement units or external procurement activities in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. The public procurement unit conducting the procurement of supplies shall do so in a manner that constitutes a full and open competition.


State of Massachusetts
General Laws of Massachusetts
Part I. Administration of the Government
Title VII Cities, Towns and Districts
Chapter 40 Powers and Duties of Cities and Towns

G.L.c. 40, § 4A: Governmental units; joint operation of public activities; termination of agreement; "governmental unit" defined; financial safeguards.
The chief executive officer of a city or town, or a board, committee or officer authorized by law to execute a contract in the name of a governmental unit may, on behalf of the unit, enter into an agreement with another governmental unit to perform jointly or for that unit’s services, activities or undertakings which any of the contracting units is authorized by law to perform, if the agreement is authorized by the parties thereto, in a city by the city council with the approval of the mayor, in a town by the board of selectmen and in a district by the prudential committee; provided, however, that when the agreement involves the expenditure of funds for establishing supplementary education centers and innovative educational programs, the agreement and its termination shall be authorized by the school committee.


*****Notice to Massachusetts governmental bodies - Procurement thresholds for supplies and services allow the use of PCA contracts based upon the following criteria: 

• Execution of an interlocal (intergovernmental) contract signed by both parties;
• Comprehensive contract to ‘provide sufficient financial safeguards for all participants’;
• PCA contract number and title clearly marked on the governmental unit’s purchase order and vendor’s invoice;
• Progress payments, as agreed to, shall be made; and
• Performance bonds, as appropriate, and as agreed to.

Michigan - Click to print

State of Michigan
URBAN COOPERATION ACT OF 1967, Act 7 of 1967 (Ex. Sess.)
Chapter 124 – Municipalities

§ 124.502: Definitions:
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) “Interlocal agreement” means an agreement entered into under this act.
(b) “Local governmental unit” means a county, city, village, township, or charter township.
(c) “Province” means a province of Canada.
(d) “Property” means any real or personal property, as described in section 34c of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.34c.
(e) “Public agency” means a political subdivision of this state or of another state of the United States or of Canada, including, but not limited to, a state government; a county, city, village, township, charter township, school district, single or multipurpose special district, or single or multipurpose public authority; a provincial government, metropolitan government, borough, or other political subdivision of Canada; an agency of the United States government; or a similar entity of any other states of the United States and of Canada. As used in this subdivision, agency of the United States government includes an Indian tribe recognized by the federal government before 2000 that exercises governmental authority over land within this state, except that this act or any intergovernmental agreement entered into under this act shall not authorize the approval of a class III gaming compact negotiated under the Indian gaming regulatory act, Public Law 100-497, 102 Stat. 2467.
(f) “State” means a state of the United States.


§ 124.504: Joint exercise of powers.

Sec. 4. A public agency of this state may exercise jointly with any other public agency of this state, with a public agency of any other state of the United States, with a public agency of Canada, or with any public agency of the United States government any power, privilege, or authority that the agencies share in common and that each might exercise separately.


State of Michigan
THE MICHIGAN REVISED SCHOOL CODE (EXCERPT), Act 451 of 1976
380.11a General powers school district.

Sec. 11a.
(1) Beginning on July 1, 1996, each school district formerly organized as a primary school district or as a school district of the fourth class, third class, or second class shall be a general powers school district under this act

(2) Beginning on July 1, 1996, a school district operating under a special or local act shall operate as a general powers school district under this act except to the extent that the special or local act is inconsistent with this act. Upon repeal of a special or local act that governs a school district, that school district shall become a general powers school district under this act.

(3) A general powers school district has all of the rights, powers, and duties expressly stated in this act; may exercise a power implied or incident to a power expressly stated in this act; and, except as provided by law, may exercise a power incidental or appropriate to the performance of a function related to operation of the school district in the interests of public elementary and secondary education in the school district, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Educating pupils. In addition to educating pupils in grades K-12, this function may include operation of preschool, lifelong education, adult education, community education, training, enrichment, and recreation programs for other persons.

(b) Providing for the safety and welfare of pupils while at school or a school sponsored activity or while en route to or from school or a school sponsored activity.

(c) Acquiring, constructing, maintaining, repairing, renovating, disposing of, or conveying school property, facilities, equipment, technology, or furnishings.

(d) Hiring, contracting for, scheduling, supervising, or terminating employees, independent contractors, and others to carry out school district powers. A school district may indemnify its employees.

(e) Receiving, accounting for, investing, or expending school district money; borrowing money and pledging school district funds for repayment; and qualifying for state school aid and other public or private money from local, regional, state, or federal sources.

(4) A general powers school district may enter into agreements or cooperative arrangements with other entities, public or private, or join organizations as part of performing the functions of the school district. An agreement or cooperative arrangement that is entered into under this act is not required to comply with the provisions of the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512, as provided under section 503 of that act, MCL 124.503.

(5) A general powers school district is a body corporate and shall be governed by a school board. An act of a school board is not valid unless approved, at a meeting of the school board, by a majority vote of the members lawfully serving on the board.

Minnesota - Click to print

State of Minnesota
Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 471 Municipal Rights, Powers, Duties

§ 471.59: Joint exercise of powers.

Subdivision 1: Agreement - Two or more governmental units, by agreement entered into through action of their governing bodies, may jointly or cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting parties or any similar powers, including those which are the same except for the territorial limits within which they may be exercised. The agreement may provide for the exercise of such powers by one or more of the participating governmental units on behalf of the other participating units. The term "governmental unit" as used in this section includes every city, county, town, school district, independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, other political subdivision of this or another state, another state, federally recognized Indian tribe, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, nonprofit hospitals licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56, rehabilitation facilities and extended employment providers that are certified by the commissioner of employment and economic development, day training and habilitation services licensed under sections 245B.01 to 245B.08, and any agency of the state of Minnesota or the United States, and includes any instrumentality of a governmental unit. For the purpose of this section, an instrumentality of a governmental unit means an instrumentality having independent policy-making and appropriating authority.

Mississippi - Click to print

State of Mississippi
Mississippi Code of 1972
Title 31 Public Business, Bonds and Obligations
Chapter 7 Public Purchases

§ 31-7-1: Definitions.
The following terms are defined for the purposes of this chapter to have the following meanings:
(a) "Agency" shall mean any state board, commission, committee, council, university, department or unit thereof created by the Constitution or statutes if such board, commission, committee, council, university, department, unit or the head thereof is authorized to appoint subordinate staff by the Constitution or statute, except a legislative or judicial board, commission, committee, council, department or unit thereof; and except the Mississippi State Port Authority.

(b) Governing authority" means boards of supervisors, governing boards of all school districts, all boards of directors of public water supply districts, boards of directors of master public water supply districts, municipal public utility commissions, governing authorities of all municipalities, port authorities, Mississippi State Port Authority, commissioners and boards of trustees of any public hospitals, boards of trustees of public library systems, district attorneys, school attendance officers and any political subdivision of the state supported wholly or in part by public funds of the state or political subdivisions thereof, including commissions, boards and agencies created or operated under the authority of any county or municipality of this state. The term "governing authority" shall not include economic development authorities supported in part by private funds, or commissions appointed to hold title to and oversee the development and management of lands and buildings which are donated by private individuals to the public for the use and benefit of the community and which are supported in part by private funds.

(c) "Purchasing agent" shall mean any administrator, superintendent, purchase clerk or other chief officer so designated having general or special authority to negotiate for and make private contract for or purchase for any governing authority or agency.



§ 31-7-13: Bid requirements and exceptions; public auctions.

(m) Exceptions from bidding requirements - Excepted from bid requirements are:

(xxix) Purchases made pursuant to qualified cooperative purchasing agreements. — Purchases made by certified purchasing offices of state agencies or governing authorities under cooperative purchasing agreements previously approved by the Office of Purchasing and Travel and established by or for any municipality, county, parish or state government or the federal government, provided that the notification to potential contractors includes a clause that sets forth the availability of the cooperative purchasing agreement to other governmental entities. Such purchases shall only be made if the use of the cooperative purchasing agreements is determined to be in the best interest of the government entity.

Missouri - Click to print

State of Missouri
Title VI County, Township & Political Subdivision Government
Chapter 70 Powers of Political Subdivisions to Cooperate or Contract with Governmental Units


§ 70.210: Definitions.

As used in sections 70.210 to 70.320, the following terms mean:

1) "Governing body", the board, body or persons in which the powers of a municipality or political subdivision are vested;
2) "Municipality", municipal corporations, political corporations, and other public corporations and agencies authorized to exercise governmental functions;
3) "Political subdivision", counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, school, county library, city library, city-county library, road, drainage, sewer, levee and fire districts, soil and water conservation districts, watershed subdistricts, county hospitals, and any board of control of an art museum, and any other public subdivision or public corporation having the power to tax.


§ 70.220: Political subdivisions may cooperate with each other, with other states, the United States or private persons

1) Any municipality or political subdivision of this state, as herein defined, may contract and cooperate with any other municipality or political subdivision, or with an elective or appointive official thereof, or with a duly authorized agency of the United States, or of this state, or with other states or their municipalities or political subdivisions, or with any private person, firm, association or corporation, for the planning, development, construction, acquisition or operation of any public improvement or facility, or for a common service; provided, that the subject and purposes of any such contract or cooperative action made and entered into by such municipality or political subdivision shall be within the scope of the powers of such municipality or political subdivision.
4) If any contract or cooperative action entered into under this section is between a municipality or political subdivision and an elective or appointive official of another municipality or political subdivision, such contract or cooperative action shall be approved by the governing body of the unit of government in which such elective or appointive official resides.

Montana - Click to print

State of Montana
Montana Code Annotated 2011
Title 18 Public Contracts
Chapter 4 Montana Procurement Act
Part 1 General Provisions


§ 18-4-124. Local government adoption of procurement provisions -- alternative project delivery contracts.

(1) A political subdivision or school district may adopt any or all parts of this chapter and the accompanying rules promulgated by the department.

(2) A governing body, as defined in 18-2-501, may adopt the provisions of Title 18, chapter 2, part 5, and use an alternative project delivery contract.


Montana Code Annotated 2011
Title 18 Public Contracts
Chapter 4 Montana Procurement Act
Part 4 Cooperative Purchasing

§ 18-4-401. Definitions.

As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by or on behalf of more than one public procurement unit.

(2) "Local public procurement unit" means a county, city, town, or other subdivision of the state or a public agency of any such subdivision; public authority; educational, health, or other institution; to the extent provided by law, any other entity that expends public funds for the procurement of supplies and services; and any nonprofit corporation operating a charitable hospital.

(3) "Public procurement unit" means a local or state public procurement unit of this or any other state, including an agency of the United States, or a tribal procurement unit.

(4) "State public procurement unit" means a state department, agency, or official that expends public funds for the procurement of supplies and services.

(5) "Tribal procurement unit" means a tribal government, tribal entity, or official of a tribal government located in Montana that expends tribal funds or funds administered by a tribe for the procurement of supplies and services to the extent provided by tribal or federal law.

§ 18-4-402. Cooperative purchasing authorized.

The department may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies or services with one or more public procurement units in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants independent of the requirements of part 3. Cooperative purchasing may include purchasing through federal supply schedules of the United States general services administration, joint or multiparty contracts between public procurement units, open-ended state public procurement unit contracts that are made available to local public procurement units, and competitive contracts established by for-profit, not-for-profit, or nonprofit cooperative entities.

Nebraska - Click to print

State of Nebraska
Nebraska Revised Statutes
Chapter 13 Cities, Counties, and Political Subdivisions


§ 13-2503. Terms, defined.

For purposes of the Joint Public Agency Act:

(5) Public agency means any county, city, village, school district, or agency of the state government or of the United States, any drainage district, sanitary and improvement district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of this state, and any political subdivision of another state;


§ 13-2505. Joint exercise of powers.

Notwithstanding any restrictions contained in a city charter, any power, privilege, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by the Joint Public Agency Act upon a public agency.

Nevada - Click to print

State of Nevada
Nevada Revised Statutes
Title 27 – Public Property and Purchasing
Chapter 332 Purchasing: Local Governments
General Provisions


NRS § 332.015 "Local government" defined.

NRS § 332.115 Contracts not adapted to award by competitive bidding; purchase of equipment by local law enforcement agency or local fire department; purchase of goods commonly used by hospital.

1. Contracts which by their nature are not adapted to award by competitive bidding, including contracts for:
(m) Supplies, materials or equipment that are available pursuant to an agreement with a vendor that has entered into an agreement with the General Services Administration or another governmental agency located within or outside this state;


NRS § 332.195 Joinder or mutual use of contracts by local governments.
Entering into contract pursuant to solicitation by other governmental entities or cooperative purchasing organizations; prohibition if contractor’s license required for portion of work to be performed.

New Jersey - Click to print

State of New Jersey
Title 52 State Government, Departments and Officers

§ 52:34-6.2: Cooperative purchasing agreements with other states for purchase of goods, services; rules, regulations.

Section 7: 
a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary except the provisions of R.S.30:4-95, and as an alternative to the procedures concerning the awarding of public contracts provided in P.L.1954, c.48 (C.52:34-6 et seq.), the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury may enter into cooperative purchasing agreements with one or more other states, or political subdivisions thereof, for the purchase of goods and services. A cooperative purchasing agreement shall allow the jurisdictions which are parties thereto to standardize and combine their requirements for the purchase of a particular good or service into a single contract solicitation which shall be competitively bid and awarded by one of the jurisdictions on behalf of jurisdictions participating in the contract.

b. (1) The director may elect to purchase goods or services through a contract awarded pursuant to a cooperative purchasing agreement whenever the director determines this to be the most cost- effective method of procurement. Prior to entering into any contract to be awarded or already awarded through a cooperative purchasing agreement, the director shall review and approve the specifications and proposed terms and conditions of the contract.

(2) The director may also elect to purchase goods or services through a contract awarded pursuant to a nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement that has been developed utilizing a competitive bidding process, in which other states participate, whenever the director determines this to be the most cost-effective method of procurement. Prior to entering into any contract to be awarded through a nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement that has been developed utilizing a competitive bidding process, the director shall review and approve the specifications and proposed terms and conditions of the contract.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any contracting unit authorized to purchase goods, or to contract for services, may make purchases and contract for services through the use of a nationally-recognized and accepted cooperative purchasing agreement that has been developed utilizing a competitive bidding process by another contracting unit within the State of New Jersey, or within any other state, when available. Prior to making purchases or contracting for services, the contracting unit shall determine that the use of the cooperative purchasing agreement shall result in cost savings after all factors, including charges for service, material, and delivery, have been considered.
For purposes of this paragraph, "contracting unit" means any county, municipality, special district, school district, fire district or any board, commission, committee, authority or agency, which is not a State board, commission, committee, authority or agency, and which has administrative jurisdiction over any district, included or operating in whole or in part, within the territorial boundaries of any county or municipality which exercises functions which are appropriate for the exercise by one or more units of local government, and which has statutory power to make purchases and enter into contracts awarded by a contracting agent for the provision or performance of goods or services.

New York - Click to print

State of New York
General Municipal Law
Article 5A-Public Contracts
Section 103 Advertising for bids and offers; letting contracts; criminal conspiracies

§ 16. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions one, two and three of this section, and section one hundred four of this article, any officer, board or agency of a county, political subdivision or of any district therein authorized to make purchases of apparatus, materials, equipment or supplies, or to contract for services related to the installation, maintenance or repair of apparatus, materials, equipment, and supplies, may make such purchases, or may contract for such services related to the installation, maintenance or repair of apparatus, materials, equipment, and supplies, as may be required by such county, political subdivision or district therein through the use of a contract let by the United States of America or any agency thereof, any state or any other county or political subdivision or district therein if such contract was let in a manner that constitutes competitive bidding consistent with state law and made available for use by other governmental entities.

The authority provided to counties, political subdivisions and districts therein pursuant to this subdivision shall not relieve any obligation of such county, political subdivision or district therein to comply with any applicable minority and women-owned business enterprise program mandates and the preferred source requirements of section one hundred sixty-two of the state finance law.

New Hampshire - Click to print

State of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Revised Statutes
Title III Towns, Cities, Village Districts and Unincorporated Places
Chapter 53-A Agreements Between Government Units


§ 53-A:1: Purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to permit municipalities and counties to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other municipalities and counties on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

§53-A:2: Public Agency Defined.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term "public agency" shall mean any political subdivision of this state or of any adjoining state and any quasimunicipal corporation, including but not limited to school districts, village districts, regional water districts, and special districts.

§ 53-A:3: Joint Exercise of Powers.

Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised jointly with any other public agency of this state. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, the power to enter into agreements to share tax revenues resulting from local economic development efforts and with respect to cities and towns, the power to form the entities and conduct the activities provided for in RSA 162-G.

I. Any 2 or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to this chapter. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or other action pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

IV. No agreement made pursuant to this chapter shall relieve any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law except to the extent of actual and timely performance thereof by a joint board or other legal or administrative entity created by an agreement made hereunder. Said performance may be offered in satisfaction of the obligation or responsibility.

V. Every agreement made hereunder shall, prior to and as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the attorney general who shall determine whether the agreement is in proper form and compatible with the laws of this state. The attorney general shall approve any agreement submitted to him hereunder unless he shall find that it does not in substance meet the conditions set forth herein and shall detail in writing addressed to the governing bodies of the public agencies concerned the specific respects in which the proposed agreement substantially fails to meet the requirements of law. Failure to disapprove an agreement submitted hereunder within 30 days of its submission shall constitute approval thereof.

New Mexico - Click to print

State of New Mexico
New Mexico Statutes (Unannotated)
Chapter 11 Intergovernmental Agreements and Authorities
Article 1 Joint Powers Authority

§ 11-1-2: Definitions.

As used in the Joint Powers Agreements Act :

A. "public agency" means the federal government or a federal department, agency or instrumentality; this state, another state or a state department, agency or instrumentality; an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo; a subdivision of an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo that has authority pursuant to the law of that Indian nation, tribe or pueblo to enter into joint powers agreements directly with the state; a county, municipality, public corporation or public district of this state or another state; a New Mexico educational institution specified in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico; and a New Mexico school district;





§ 11-1-3: Authority to enter into agreements; approval of the secretary of finance and administration required.

If authorized by their legislative or other governing bodies, two or more public agencies by agreement may jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, even though one or more of the contracting parties may be located outside this state; provided, however, nothing contained in this Joint Powers Agreements Act shall authorize any state officer, board, commission, department or any other state agency, institution or authority, or any county, municipality, public corporation or public district to make any agreement without the approval of the secretary of finance and administration as to the terms and conditions thereof. Joint powers agreements approved by the secretary of finance and administration shall be reported to the state board of finance at its next regularly scheduled public meeting. A list of the approved agreements shall be filed with the office of the state board of finance and made a part of the minutes.


New Mexico Statutes (Unannotated)
Chapter 13 Public Purchases and Property
Article 1 Procurement

§ 13-1-135: Cooperative procurement authorized.

A. Any state agency or local public body may either participate in, sponsor or administer a cooperative procurement agreement for the procurement of any services, construction or items of tangible personal property with any other state agency, local public body or external procurement unit in accordance with an agreement entered into and approved by the governing authority of each of the state agencies, local public bodies or external procurement units involved. The cooperative procurement agreement shall clearly specify the purpose of the agreement and the method by which the purpose will be accomplished. Any power exercised under a cooperative procurement agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be limited to the central purchasing authority common to the contracting parties, even though one or more of the contracting parties may be located outside this state. An approved and signed copy of all cooperative procurement agreements entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be filed with the state purchasing agent. A cooperative procurement agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection is limited to the procurement of items of tangible personal property, services or construction.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, a cooperative procurement agreement providing for mutually held funds or for other terms and conditions involving public funds or property included in Section 11-1-4 NMSA 1978 shall be entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Joint Powers Agreements Act [ 11-1-1 NMSA 1978].

C. Central purchasing offices other than the state purchasing agent may cooperate by agreement with the state purchasing agent in obtaining contracts or price agreements, and such contract or agreed prices shall apply to purchase orders subsequently issued under the agreement.

North Carolina - Click to print

State of North Carolina
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 160A. Cities and Towns
Article 20 Interlocal Cooperation
Part 1 Joint Exercise of Powers

§160A-460 Definitions.

The words defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated when used in this Part:

(1) "Undertaking" means the joint exercise by two or more units of local government, or the contractual exercise by one unit for one or more other units, of any power, function, public enterprise, right, privilege, or immunity of local government.

(2) "Unit," or "unit of local government" means a county, city, consolidated city-county, local board of education, sanitary district, facility authority created under Part 4 of this Article, special district created under Article 43 of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes, or other local political subdivision, authority, or agency of local government.


160A-461 Interlocal cooperation authorized.

Any unit of local government in this State and any one or more other units of local government in this State or any other state (to the extent permitted by the laws of the other state) may enter into contracts or agreements with each other in order to execute any undertaking. The contracts and agreements shall be of reasonable duration, as determined by the participating units, and shall be ratified by resolution of the governing board of each unit spread upon its minutes.


North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 115C: Elementary and Secondary Education
Article 5- Local Boards of Education

§115C-47 Powers and duties generally.

In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C-36, local boards of education shall have the power or duty:

(23) To Purchase Equipment and Supplies. - Local boards shall contract for equipment and supplies under G.S. 115C-522(a) and G.S. 115C-528.


North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 115C: Elementary and Secondary Education
Article 37- School Sites and Property

§ 115C-522 Provision of equipment for buildings.

(a) It shall be the duty of local boards of education to purchase or exchange all supplies, equipment, and materials, and these purchases shall be made in accordance with Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. These purchases may be made from contracts made by the Department of Administration. Title to instructional supplies, office supplies, fuel and janitorial supplies, enumerated in the current expense fund budget and purchased out of State funds, shall be taken in the name of the local board of education which shall be responsible for the custody and replacement: Provided, that no contracts shall be made by any local school administrative unit for purchases unless provision has been made in the budget of the unit to pay for the purchases, unless surplus funds are on hand to pay for the purchases, or unless the contracts are made pursuant to G.S. 115C-47(28) and G.S. 115C-528 and adequate funds are available to pay in the current fiscal year the sums obligated for the current fiscal year. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules regarding equipment standards for supplies, equipment, and materials related to student transportation. The State Board may adopt guidelines for any commodity that needs safety features. If a commodity that needs safety features is available on statewide term contract, any guidelines adopted by the State Board must at a minimum meet the safety standards of the statewide term contract.


§115C 528 Lease purchase and installment purchase contracts for certain equipment.

(a) Local boards of education may purchase or finance the purchase of automobiles; school buses; mobile classroom units; food service equipment, photocopiers; and computers, computer hardware, computer software, and related support services by lease purchase contracts and installment purchase contracts as provided in this section. Computers, computer hardware, computer software, and related support services purchased under this section shall meet the technical standards specified in the North Carolina Instructional Technology Plan as developed and approved under G.S. 115C 102.6A and G.S. 115C 102.6B.
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 143 State Departments, Institutions and Commissions
Article 8 Public Contracts

143-129. Procedure for letting of public contracts.

(e) Exceptions — The requirements of this Article do not apply to:

(3) Purchases made through a competitive bidding group purchasing program, which is a formally organized program that offers competitively obtained purchasing services at discount prices to two or more public agencies.

North Dakota - Click to print

State of North Dakota
North Dakota Century Code
Title 54 State Government
Chapter 54-40 Joint Exercise of Governmental Powers

§ 54-40-12: Joint agreements for heat from a central heating source.

Any political subdivision, nonprofit hospital, or nursing home of this state, through its governing body, may enter into an agreement with any state agency or institution to furnish or receive heat from a central heating source. The director of the office of management and budget or any supervisory state agency must be the contracting party in an agreement involving a state institution under the director's or health officer's control. Political subdivisions, nonprofit hospitals, nursing homes, and state agencies and institutions are encouraged to enter into agreements pursuant to this section.

North Dakota Century Code
Title 54 State Government
Chapter 54-40.3 Joint Powers Agreements

§ 54-40.3-01: Joint powers agreements - General authority.

1. Any county, city, township, city park district, school district, or other political subdivision of this state, upon approval of its respective governing body, may enter into an agreement with any other political subdivision of this state for the cooperative or joint administration of any power or function that is authorized by law or assigned to one or more of them. Any political subdivision of this state may enter into a joint powers agreement with a political subdivision of another state or political subdivision of a Canadian province if the power or function to be jointly administered is a power or function authorized by the laws of this state for a political subdivision of this state and is authorized by the laws of the other state or province.
2. Any county, city, township, city park district, school district, or other political subdivision of this state may enter into an agreement in the manner provided in subsection 1 with any agency, board, or institution of the state for the undertaking of any power or function which any of the parties is permitted by law to undertake. Before an agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection is effective, the respective governing body or officer of the state agency, board, or institution must approve the agreement and the attorney general must determine that the agreement is legally sufficient.

North Dakota Century Code
Title 54 State Government
Chapter 54-44.4 State Purchasing Practices

§ 54-44.4-13: Cooperative purchasing.
1. The office of management and budget shall purchase commodities or services as requested by agencies and institutions under the jurisdiction of the state board of higher education and the legislative and judicial branches of state government.
2. The office of management and budget and the agencies and institutions under the jurisdiction of the state board of higher education shall make joint purchases of like commodities or services of high common usage when the office of management and budget and the state board of higher education determine it is in the best interest of the state.
3. The director of the office of management and budget or the director's designee may agree to purchase commodities or services under contracts entered into by the United States general services administration or contracts of other government entities if it is determined to be in the best interest of the state after consideration of price, contractual terms and conditions, and the availability of competition from approved vendors under section 54-44.4-09.
4. The director of the office of management and budget or the director's designee may participate in, sponsor, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement with one or more government entities or a nonprofit organization established on behalf of public entities for the procurement of commodities or services in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants.
5. Cooperative purchasing may include open-ended contracts that are available to other government entities or nonprofit organizations established on behalf of public entities. 6. Before entering into a cooperative purchasing agreement under this section, the office of management and budget must determine that the contracts were awarded through full and open competition or source selection methods specified in section 54-44.4-05 and shall send notice to approved vendors of the office's intent to make a cooperative purchase in accordance with this chapter.

Ohio - Click to print

State of Ohio
Ohio Revised Rule
General Provisions
Chapter 9: Miscellaneous

§ 9.48: Joint Purchasing Programs

(A) As used in this section, “political subdivision” has the same meaning as in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code and includes a county hospital as defined in section 339.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) A political subdivision may do any of the following:

(1) Permit one or more other political subdivisions to participate in contracts into which it has entered for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, or services, and may charge such participating political subdivisions a reasonable fee to cover any additional costs incurred as a result of their participation;
(2) Participate in a joint purchasing program operated by or through a national or state association of political subdivisions in which the purchasing political subdivision is eligible for membership.
(3) Participate in contract offerings from the federal government that are available to a political subdivision including, but not limited to, contract offerings from the general services administration.

(C) Acquisition by a political subdivision of equipment, material, supplies, or services, through participation in a contract of another political subdivision or participation in an association program under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, is exempt from any competitive selection requirements otherwise required by law, if the contract in which it is participating was awarded pursuant to a publicly solicited request for a proposal or a competitive selection procedure of another political subdivision within this state or in another state. Acquisition by a political subdivision of equipment, materials, supplies, or services pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section is exempt from any competitive selection requirements otherwise required by law. No political subdivision shall acquire equipment, materials, supplies, or services by participating in a contract under this section if it has received bids for such acquisition, unless its participation enables it to make the acquisition upon the same terms, conditions, and specifications at a lower price.

(D) A political subdivision that is eligible to participate in a joint purchasing program operated by or through a national or state association of political subdivisions in which the purchasing political subdivision is eligible for membership may purchase supplies or services from another party, including another political subdivision, instead of through participation in contracts authorized by division (B)(2) of this section if the political subdivision can purchase those supplies or services from the other party upon equivalent terms, conditions, and specifications but at a lower price than it can through those contracts. Purchases that a political subdivision makes under this division are exempt from any competitive selection procedures otherwise required by law. A political subdivision that makes any purchase under this division shall maintain sufficient information regarding the purchase to verify that it satisfied the conditions for making a purchase under this division. Nothing in this division restricts any action taken by a political subdivision as authorized by division (B)(1) of this section.

(E) The authorization granted to a municipal corporation under this section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the powers and authority granted by state law, the Ohio Constitution, and the provisions of a municipal charter, ordinance, or resolution.


State of Ohio
Ohio Revised Code
Title 1 State Government
Chapter 167 Regional Councils of Governments

§ 167.01: Establishment of regional councils of political subdivisions.

That governing bodies of any two or more counties, municipal corporations, townships, special districts, school districts, or other political subdivisions may enter into an agreement with each other, or with the governing bodies of any counties, municipal corporations, townships, special districts, school districts or other political subdivisions of any other state to the extent that laws of such other state permit, for establishment of a regional council consisting of such political subdivisions.


§ 167.03: Powers.

(A) The council shall have the power to:
(2) Promote cooperative arrangements and coordinate action among its members, and between its members and other agencies of local or state governments, whether or not within Ohio, and the federal government;
(4) Promote cooperative agreements and contracts among its members or other governmental agencies and private persons, corporations, or agencies.


State of Ohio
Ohio Revised Code
Title 3 Counties
Chapter 307: Board of County Commissioners-Powers

§ 307.86 Competitive bidding required - exceptions.

Anything to be purchased, leased, leased with an option or agreement to purchase, or constructed, including, but not limited to, any product, structure, construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, repair, or service, except the services of an accountant, architect, attorney at law, physician, professional engineer, construction project manager, consultant, surveyor, or appraiser, by or on behalf of the county or contracting authority, as defined in section 307.92 of the Revised Code, at a cost in excess of fifty thousand dollars, except as otherwise provided in division (D) of section 713.23 and in sections 9.48, 125.04, 125.60 to 125.6012, 307.022, 307.041, 307.861, 339.05, 340.03, 340.033, 4115.31 to 4115.35, 5119.16, 5513.01, 5543.19, 5713.01, and 6137.05 of the Revised Code, shall be obtained through competitive bidding. However, competitive bidding is not required when any of the following applies:

(A) The board of county commissioners, by a unanimous vote of its members, makes a determination that a real and present emergency exists, and that determination and the reasons for it are entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the board, when either of the following applies:
(1) The estimated cost is less than one hundred thousand dollars.
(2) There is actual physical disaster to structures, radio communications equipment, or computers.

(C) The purchase is from the federal government, the state, another county or contracting authority of another county, or a board of education, educational service center, township, or municipal corporation.

(M) The county contracting authority determines that the use of competitive sealed proposals would be advantageous to the county and the contracting authority complies with section 307.862 of the Revised Code.

Oklahoma - Click to print

State of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74 State Government
Chapter 31 Interlocal Cooperation Act
 

§ 74-1001. Purpose.
It is the purpose of Section 1001[74-1001] et seq. of this title to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities. The cooperating governmental units can, if they deem it necessary, create an entity to carry out the cooperative functions.

§ 74-1003. Definitions.
A. For the purposes of Section et seq. of this title, the term "public agency" shall mean:
1. Any political subdivision of this state;
2. Any agency of the state government or of the United States;
3. Each and every public trust of this state regardless of whether the beneficiary of such trust is a municipality, a county, or the State of Oklahoma, except the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority;
4. Any corporation organized not for profit pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, Section 1001 [18-1001] et seq. of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for the primary purpose of developing and providing rural water supply and sewage disposal facilities to serve rural residents or to provide community-based services or assistance to clients of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as provided in Section 43A- 2-106[43A-43A-2-106] of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
5. Any political subdivision of another state.

B. The term "state" shall mean a state of the United States and the District of Columbia.


§ 74-1004. Agreements Authorized.

A. Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this act upon a public agency.
B. Any two or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this act. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.
F. Every agreement made hereunder, except those agreements authorized by Section 601 of Title 69 of the Oklahoma Statutes which shall be approved by the district attorney, shall, prior to and as a condition precedent to its entry into force, be submitted to the Attorney General who shall determine whether the agreement is in proper form and compatible with the laws of this state, including any agreements entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act. The Attorney General shall approve any agreement submitted to the Attorney General hereunder unless the Attorney General shall find that it does not meet the conditions set forth herein and shall detail in writing addressed to the governing bodies of the public agencies concerned the specific respects in which the proposed agreement fails to meet the requirements of law. Failure to disapprove an agreement submitted hereunder within sixty (60) days of its submission shall constitute approval thereof.

Oregon - Click to print

State of Oregon
Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 279A Public Contracting
General Provisions

§ 279A.205: Cooperative procurements authorized.

(1) A contracting agency may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a joint cooperative procurement for the procurement of any goods, services or public improvements.
(2) A contracting agency may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a permissive or interstate cooperative procurement for the procurement of any goods or services, but not public improvements.


§ 279A.220: Interstate cooperative procurements.
(1) A contracting agency may establish contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement only if:
(a) The administering contracting agency’s solicitation and award process for the original contract is an open and impartial competitive process and uses source selection methods substantially equivalent to those specified in ORS 279B.055 or 279B.060;
(b) The administering contracting agency’s solicitation and the original contract allows other governmental bodies to establish contracts or price agreements under the terms, conditions and prices of the original contract; and
(c) The administering contracting agency permits the contractor to extend the use of the terms, conditions and prices of the original contract to the purchasing contracting agency.
(2) In addition to the requirements in subsection (1) of this section:
(a) The purchasing contracting agency, or the cooperative procurement group of which the purchasing contracting agency is a member, must be listed in the solicitation of the administering contracting agency as a party that may establish contracts or price agreements under the terms, conditions and prices of the original contract, and the solicitation must be advertised in Oregon; or
(b)(A) The purchasing contracting agency, or the cooperative procurement group of which the purchasing contracting agency is a member, shall advertise a notice of intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement.
(b) The notice of intent must include:
(i) A description of the procurement;
(ii) An estimated amount of the procurement;
(iii) The name of the administering contracting agency; and
(iv) A time, place and date by which comments must be submitted to the purchasing contracting agency regarding the intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement.
(c) Public notice of the intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement must be given in the same manner as provided in ORS 279B.055 (4)(b) and (c).
(d) Unless otherwise specified in rules adopted under ORS 279A.070, the purchasing contracting agency shall give public notice at least seven days before the deadline for submission of comments regarding the intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement.
(3) If a purchasing contracting agency is required to provide notice of intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement under subsection (2) of this section:
(a) The purchasing contracting agency shall provide vendors who would otherwise be prospective bidders or proposers on the contract or price agreement, if the procurement were competitively procured under ORS chapter 279B, an opportunity to comment on the intent to establish a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement.
(b) Vendors must submit comments within seven days after the notice of intent is published.
(c) And if the purchasing contracting agency receives comments on the intent to establish a contract or price
agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement, before the purchasing contracting agency may establish a contract or price agreement through the interstate cooperative procurement, the purchasing contracting agency shall make a written determination that establishing a contract or price agreement through an interstate cooperative procurement is in the best interest of the purchasing contracting agency. The purchasing contracting agency shall provide a copy of the written determination to any vendor that submitted comments.
(4) For purposes of this section, an administering contracting agency may be any governmental body, domestic or foreign, authorized under its laws, rules or regulations to enter into contracts for the procurement of goods and services for use by a governmental body.


§ 279A.200: Definitions for ORS 279A.200 to 279A.225.

(1) As used in ORS 279A.200 to 279A.225:
(a) “Administering contracting agency” means a contracting agency that solicits and establishes the original contract for procurement of goods, services or public improvements in a cooperative procurement.
(b) “Cooperative procurement” means a procurement conducted by or on behalf of one or more contracting agencies. “Cooperative procurement” includes but is not limited to multiparty contracts and price agreements.
(c) “Cooperative procurement group” means a group of contracting agencies joined through an Intergovernmental agreement for the purposes of facilitating cooperative procurements.
(d) “Interstate cooperative procurement” means a permissive cooperative procurement in which the administering contracting agency is a governmental body, domestic or foreign, that is authorized under the governmental body’s laws, rules or regulations to enter into public contracts and in which one or more of the participating agencies are located outside this state.
(e) “Joint cooperative procurement” means a cooperative procurement in which the participating contracting agencies or the cooperative procurement group and the agencies’ or group’s contract requirements or estimated contract requirements for price agreements are identified.
(f) “Original contract” means the initial contract or price agreement solicited and awarded during a cooperative procurement by an administering contracting agency.
(g) “Permissive cooperative procurement” means a cooperative procurement in which the purchasing contracting agencies are not identified.
(h) “Purchasing contracting agency” means a contracting agency that procures goods, services or public improvements from a contractor based on the original contract established by an administering contracting agency.
(2) As used in ORS 279A.210 (1)(a), 279A.215 (1)(a) and 279A.220 (1)(a), an administering contracting agency’s solicitation and award process uses source selection methods “substantially equivalent” to those identified in ORS 279B.055, 279B.060 or 279B.085 if the solicitation and award process:
(a) Calls for award of a contract on the basis of a lowest responsible bidder or a lowest and best bidder determination in the case of competitive bids, or on the basis of a determination of the proposer whose proposal is most advantageous based on evaluation factors set forth in the request for proposals in the case of competitive proposals;
(b) Does not permit the application of any geographic preference that is more favorable to bidders or proposers who reside in the jurisdiction or locality favored by the preference than the preferences provided in ORS 279A.120 (2); and
(c) Uses reasonably clear and precise specifications that promote suitability for the purposes intended and that reasonably encourage competition.

Pennsylvania - Click to print

State of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated
Title 62 Procurement (Pa.C.S.A.)
Part I Commonwealth Procurement Code
Chapter 19 Intergovernmental Relations

§ 62 Pa.C.S.A. § 1901. Definitions

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Cooperative purchasing." Procurement conducted by or on behalf of more than one public procurement unit or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity.

"External procurement activity." A buying organization not located in this Commonwealth which if located in this Commonwealth would qualify as a public procurement unit. An agency of the United States is an external procurement activity.

"Local public procurement unit." A political subdivision, public authority, educational, health or other institution and, to the extent provided by law, any other entity, including a council of governments or an area government, which expends public funds for the procurement of supplies, services and construction, any nonprofit corporation operating a charitable hospital and any nonprofit fire company, nonprofit rescue company and nonprofit ambulance company.

"Public procurement unit." A local public procurement unit or a purchasing agency.


§ 62 Pa.C.S.A. § 1902. Cooperative purchasing authorized

A public procurement unit may either participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies, services or construction with one or more public procurement units or external procurement activities in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. The Department of General Services is authorized to enter into cooperative purchasing contracts solely for the use of local public procurement units or State-affiliated entities. The department shall enter into cooperative purchasing contracts for the use of local public procurement units or State-affiliated entities if the number of contractors under a previously existing contract for the same supply or service is reduced to a single contractor or reduced by more than 50% of the number existing on September 30, 2003, and shall award such contracts pursuant to section 517 (relating to multiple awards) using an invitation for bids. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a local public procurement unit or State-affiliated entity from participating in or procuring from other cooperative purchasing agreements awarded by the department. Cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint or multiparty contracts between public procurement units and open-ended purchasing agency contracts which are made available to local public procurement units.

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated
Title 53 Municipalities Generally
Chapter 23 General Provisions
Subchapter A Intergovernmental Cooperation

§ 53 Pa.C.S.A. 2302. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Local government." A county, city of the second class, second class A and third class, borough, incorporated town, township, school district or any other similar general purpose unit of government created by the General Assembly after July 12, 1972.


§ 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2303. Intergovernmental cooperation authorized.
(a) General rule.--Two or more local governments in this Commonwealth may jointly cooperate, or any local government may jointly cooperate with any similar entities located in any other state, in the exercise or in the performance of their respective governmental functions, powers or responsibilities.
(b) Joint agreements.--For the purpose of carrying the provisions of this subchapter into effect, the local governments or other entities so cooperating shall enter into any joint agreements as may be deemed appropriate for those purposes.


§ 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2304. Intergovernmental cooperation.
A municipality by act of its governing body may, or upon being required by initiative and referendum in the area affected shall, cooperate or agree in the exercise of any function, power or responsibility with or delegate or transfer any function, power or responsibility to one or more other local governments, the Federal Government or any other state or its government.


§ 16 P. S. § 1802. Contract procedures; terms and bonds; advertising for bids
(a) All contracts for services and personal property where the amount thereof exceeds the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), shall be written and shall, except as otherwise hereinafter specified, be made by advertising for bids.
(h) The contracts or purchases made by the commissioners which shall not require advertising, bidding or price quotations, as hereinbefore provided, are as follows:
(7) Those made with any public body, including, but not limited to, the sale, lease or loan of any supplies or materials to the county by a public body, provided that the price thereof shall not be in excess of that fixed by the public body. The requirements of 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation) shall not apply when a county purchases cooperatively with another public body which has entered into a contract for supplies or materials. As used in this paragraph, "public body" shall mean any of the following:
(i) the Federal Government;
(ii) the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
(iii) any other state;
(iv) a political subdivision, local or municipal authority or other similar local entity of the Commonwealth or any other state; or
(v) an agency of the Federal Government, the Commonwealth or any other state.

Rhode Island - Click to print

State of Rhode Island
State of Rhode Island General Laws
Title 45 Towns and Cities
Chapter 40.1 Interlocal Contracting and Joint Enterprises


§ 45-40.1-1: Legislative purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a of mutual advantage, and, thereby, to provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities.

§ 45-40.1-3: "Public agency" defined.
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the term "public agency" means any political subdivision of this state, any agency of the state government or of the United States, and any political subdivision of another state.
(b) The term "state" means a state of the United States.

§ 45-40.1-4: Interlocal agreements.
(a) Any power or powers, privileges, or authority, exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state, may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of any other state or of the United States, and to the extent that laws of the other state or of the United States permit the joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government, when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency.

South Carolina - Click to print

State of South Carolina
South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 11 Public Finance
Chapter 35 South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code
Article 19 Intergovernmental Relations


§ 11-35-4610: Definitions of terms used in this article.
As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Cooperative purchasing" means procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, more than one public procurement unit, or by a public procurement unit with an external procurement activity.
(2) "External procurement activity" means:
(a) any buying organization not located in this State which would qualify as a public procurement unit;
(b) buying by the United States government.
(3) "Local public procurement unit" means any political subdivision or unit thereof which expends public funds for the procurement of supplies, services, or construction.
(4) "Mandatory opting" is the requirement for a local procurement unit to choose whether to utilize a state contract before it is established as prescribed in regulation by the board.
(5) "Public procurement unit" means either a local public procurement unit or a state public procurement unit.
(6) "State public procurement unit" means the offices of the chief procurement officers and any other purchasing agency of this State.

§ 11-35-4810: Cooperative purchasing authorized.
(1) Any public procurement unit may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies, services, technology information, or construction with one or more public procurement units in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint or multi-party contracts between public procurement units and open-ended state public procurement unit contracts which shall be made available to local public procurement units, except as provided in Section 11-35-4820 or except as may otherwise be limited by the appropriate chief procurement officer. 
(2) Without limiting other requirements of this code, all cooperative purchasing with other states conducted under this article must be through contracts awarded through full and open competition, including use of source selection methods substantially equivalent to those specified in Article 5 and, as applicable, Article 9 of this code, and consistent with the requirements of Section 11-35-2730 (Assuring Competition).

§ 11-35-4840: Cooperative use of supplies or services.
Any public procurement unit may enter into an agreement in accordance with the requirements of Articles 5 and 15 of this chapter with any other public procurement unit or external procurement activity for the cooperative use of supplies or services under the terms agreed upon between the parties; provided, that such cooperative use of supplies or services shall take place only when the public procurement units have good reason to expect the cooperative use to be more cost effective than utilizing their own supplies and services.

South Dakota - Click to print

State of South Dakota
South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 1- State Affairs and Government
Chapter 24- Joint Exercise of Governmental Powers


§ 1-24-1: Definition of terms.
Terms used in this chapter mean:
(1) "Participating public agency," any public agency which has elected to participate in a pool arrangement;

(2) "Public agency," any county, municipality, township, school district, consumers power district or drainage district of the state of South Dakota; any agency of South Dakota state government or of the United States; any political subdivision of this state; any political subdivision of another adjacent state; and any Indian tribe;

(3) "State," a state of the United States and the District of Columbia;
(4) "State agency," each association, authority, board, commission, committee, council, department, division, office, officer, task force or other agent of the state vested with the authority to exercise any portion of the state's sovereignty; provided that the term shall not include the legislative or judicial branch of the government of the state or units of local government, including but not limited to counties, townships, municipalities, chartered governmental units, or school or other special districts, or Indian tribes.


§ 1-24-2: Joint exercise of powers authorized--Exceptions.
Any power or powers, privileges, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that the laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of South Dakota state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by §§ 1-24-2 to 1-24-9, inclusive, upon a public agency. The provisions of this section do not apply to the power to tax or police powers, unless jointly held or otherwise authorized by law.


§ 1-24-3: Agreements for cooperative action authorized- Approval by governing bodies.
Any two or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of §§ 1-24-2 to 1-24-9, inclusive. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution, or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

Tennessee - Click to print

State of Tennessee
Title 12 Public Property, Printing and Contracts
Chapter 9 Interlocal Cooperation

§ 12-9-102: Purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to permit local governmental units the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby provide services and facilities in a manner and pursuant to forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population, and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities

§ 12-9-103: Chapter definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Local government entity" means any city, town, municipality, county, including any county having a metropolitan form of government, local education agency, development district, utility district, human resource agency or other political subdivision of this state;

(2) "Local government joint venture entity" means any entity created pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, a self-insurance pool, trust, joint venture, nonprofit organization, or any other type of organization that is sponsored, owned, operated, or governed by two (2) or more local government entities as a separate and specific activity;

(3) "Public agency" means:
(a) Any political subdivision of this state;

(b) Any private incorporated fire department and industrial fire department not supported by public funds or which are only partially supported by public funds;

(c) Any incorporated rescue squad that is not supported by public funds or that is only partially supported by public funds;

(d) Any agency of the state government or of the United States; and

(e) Any political subdivision of another state; and

(4) "State" means a state of the United States.


§ 12-9-104: Interlocal agreements

(a)(1) Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state, including those provided in § 6-54-307, may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state having the power or powers, privilege or authority, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency. The authority for joint or cooperative action of political subdivisions shall apply to powers, privileges or authority vested in, funded by, and/or under the control of their governing bodies and relative to which the governing bodies may make other types of contracts. No joint or cooperative agreement shall be entered into affecting or relating to the constitutional or statutory powers, privileges or authority of officers of political subdivisions, or of agencies of political subdivisions with a separate governing board and having powers granted by statute independent of the governing body. Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, any municipality may enter into an agreement with the sheriff, court of general sessions, and the governing body of any county in which it is located to provide for the enforcement of the municipality's ordinances according to the provisions of §§8-8-201(34) and 16-15-501. The agreement between the municipality and the county governing body shall be limited to provide that the cost of such enforcement will be borne by the municipality where the court costs paid over to the county, as provided by §16-15-501, are not adequate.

(2) Agencies of political subdivisions that have governing boards separate from the governing bodies of the political subdivisions may make agreements for joint or cooperative action with other such agencies and with other public agencies. The power to make joint or cooperative agreements includes any power, privilege or authority exercised or that may be exercised by each of the agencies that is a party to the agreement. Agreements between agencies of political subdivisions that have separate governing boards and other such agencies and agreements between such agencies and public agencies shall substantially conform to the requirements of this chapter. The governing bodies of such political subdivisions shall require agreements made by their agencies pursuant to this chapter to be submitted to the governing body for approval before the agreements take effect. (b) Any two (2) or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Appropriate action of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies by resolution or otherwise pursuant to law shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

State of Tennessee
Title 12 Public Property, Printing And Contracts
Chapter 3 Public Purchases
Part 10 Local Governments
 

§ 12-3-1008: Purchasing by county governments.
When purchasing supplies and equipment, any county government is authorized to utilize pricing discounts obtained by the National Association of Counties Financial Services Center Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NACo Purchasing Alliance), its successor organization, or other national or regional governmental cooperative purchasing program, hereinafter referred to as purchasing program. When any general law, charter or private act requires that a county purchase by competitive bidding, either formal or informal, the procuring government unit may consider the price under any contract or price agreement obtained under a purchasing program authorized pursuant to this section in the same manner as a formal bid or informal quotation obtained under such general law, charter or private act.

§ 12-3-1009: Cooperative purchasing agreements.
(a) Any municipality, county, utility district, or other local government of the state may participate in, sponsor, conduct or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies, services or construction with one (1) or more other local governments in accordance with an agreement entered into between the participants. Such cooperative purchasing may include, but is not limited to, joint or multi-party contracts between local governments. Where the participants in a joint or multi-party contract are required to advertise and receive bids, it shall be sufficient for those purposes that the purchasing entity comply only with its own purchasing requirements.

(b) (1) Any municipality or municipal agency may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative purchasing agreement for the procurement of any supplies or any services other than construction, engineering or architectural services or construction materials with one (1) or more other local governments outside this state, to the extent the laws of the other state permit the joint exercise of purchasing authority, in accordance with an agreement entered into between or among the participants. A municipality may participate in a master agreement by adopting a resolution accepting the terms of the master agreement. If a participant in a joint or multi-party agreement is required to advertise and receive bids, then it will be deemed sufficient for those purposes that the purchasing entity or the entity that procured the bid complied with its own purchasing requirements. When any general law, charter or private act requires that a municipality or municipal agency purchase an item or a service by competitive bidding, either formal or informal, the municipality or municipal agency may consider the price for the same item or service under any contract or agreement pursuant to this section in the same manner as one of the formal bids or informal quotations required under such general law, charter or private act.

(2) The powers conferred by this subsection (b) are in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law and without regard to the provisions, requirements or restrictions of any other law, and the limitations imposed by this subdivision (b)(2) shall not affect powers conferred by any other law.

Texas - Click to print

State of Texas
Texas Government Code
Title 7. Intergovernmental Relations
Chapter 791 Interlocal Cooperation Contracts
Subchapters A, B, C. Specific Interlocal Contracting Authority


§ 791.001 GOV'T: Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of local governments by authorizing them to contract, to the greatest possible extent, with one another and with agencies of the state.


§ 791.003 GOV'T: Definitions. In this chapter:

(2) "Interlocal contract" means a contract or agreement made under this chapter.
(4) "Local government" means a:
(a) county, municipality, special district, junior college district, or other political subdivision of this state or another state;
(b) local government corporation created under Subchapter D, Chapter 431, Transportation Code;
(c) political subdivision corporation created under Chapter 304, Local Government Code;
(d) local workforce development board created under Section 2308.253; or
(e) combination of two or more entities described by Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
(5) "Political subdivision" includes any corporate and political entity organized under state law


§ 791.011 GOV'T: Contracting Authority; Terms

(b) A party to an interlocal contract may contract with a:
(1) state agency, as that term is defined by Section 771.002; or
(2) similar agency of another state.
(g) A governmental entity of this state or another state that makes purchases or provides purchasing services under an interlocal contract for a state agency, as that term is defined by Section 771.002, must comply with Chapter 2161 in making the purchases or providing the services.
(h) An interlocal contract between a governmental entity and a purchasing cooperative may not be used to purchase engineering or architectural services.


§ 791.025 GOV'T: Contracts for Purchases

(a) A local government, including a council of governments, may agree with another local government or with the state or a state agency, including the General Services Commission, to purchase goods and services.
(b) A local government, including a council of governments, may agree with another local government, including a nonprofit corporation that is created and operated to provide one or more governmental functions and services, or with the state or a state agency, including the General Services Commission, to purchase goods and any services reasonably required for the installation, operation, or maintenance of the goods. This subsection does not apply to services provided by firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical personnel.
(c) A local government that purchases goods and services under this section satisfies the requirement of the local government to seek competitive bids for the purchase of the goods and services.
(d) In this section, "council of governments" means a regional planning commission created under Chapter 391,Local Government Code.

Utah - Click to print

State of Utah
Title 11 Cities, Counties, and Local Taxing Units
Chapter 13 Interlocal Cooperation Act



§ 11-13-102: Purpose of chapter.
The purpose of this chapter is:

(1) to permit local governmental units to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage and thereby to provide services and facilities in a manner and under forms of governmental organization that will accord best with geographic, economic, population and other factors influencing the needs and development of local communities; and

(2) to provide the benefit of economy of scale, economic development, and utilization of natural resources for the overall promotion of the general welfare of the state.


§ 11-13-103: Definitions.
As used in this chapter:

(13) "Public agency" means:
(a) a city, town, county, school district, local district, special service district, or other political subdivision of the state;
(b) the state or any department, division, or agency of the state;
(c) any agency of the United States;
(d) any political subdivision or agency of another state or the District of Columbia including any interlocal cooperation or joint powers agency formed under the authority of the law of the other state or the District of Columbia; and
(e) any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
(17) "Utah public agency" means a public agency under Subsection (13)(a) or (b).


§ 11-13-201: Joint exercise of power, privilege, or authority by public agencies -- Relationship to the Municipal Cable Television and Public Telecommunications Services Act.

(1) (a) Any power, privilege, or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a Utah public agency may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other Utah public agency having the power, privilege, or authority, and jointly with any out-of-state public agency to the extent that the laws governing the out-of-state public agency permit such joint exercise or enjoyment.
(b) Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges, and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency.

Vermont - Click to print

State of Vermont
Title 1 General Provisions
Chapter 3 Construction of Statutes

1 V.S.A. § 126: Municipality

"Municipality" shall include a city, town, town school district, incorporated school or fire district or incorporated village and all other governmental incorporated units


State of Vermont
Title 24 Municipal and County Government
Chapter 121 Intermunicipal Cooperation & Services
Subchapter 4 Interlocal Contracts
24 V.S.A. § 4901: Authorization

(a) Any one or more municipalities may contract with any one or more other municipalities to perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking which each municipality entering into the contract is authorized by law to perform, provided that the legislative body of each municipality approves the contract, and expenses for such governmental service, activity, or undertaking are included in a municipal budget approved under 17 V.S.A. § 2664 or comparable charter provision.

(b) If the interlocal contract is such that the participating municipalities or their legislative bodies, commissions, boards, officers or voters have the authority to enter into it, by virtue of any charter provision, statute, or the general authority of such municipality or its officers and bodies, then the procedures of this section for approval shall not be exclusive, it being the intent that the powers and procedures set forth herein for interlocal contracts are supplementary to any other powers or procedures heretofore or hereafter possessed by any municipality.

(c) A municipality may submit an interlocal contract to the attorney general prior to approval by its legislative body. If such a contract is submitted, the attorney general shall determine whether the contract is in proper form and compatible with the laws of this state and notify the legislative body of the municipality of his or her determination. In the event that the attorney general does not respond to the request within 30 days after receipt of a copy of the contract, the legislative body may approve the contract.

Virginia - Click to print

State of Virginia
Title 2.2 Administration of Government
Subtitle II Administration of State Government
Part B. Transaction of Public Business
Chapter 43 Virginia Public Procurement Act
Article 2 Contract Formation and Administration

§ 2.2-4301: Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

5. "Public body" means any legislative, executive or judicial body, agency, office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, institution, board or political subdivision created by law to exercise some sovereign power or to perform some governmental duty, and empowered by law to undertake the activities described in this chapter. "Public body" shall include any metropolitan planning organization or planning district commission which operates exclusively within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

§ 2.2-4304: Cooperative procurement.

A. Any public body may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative procurement agreement on behalf of or in conjunction with one or more other public bodies, or public agencies or institutions or localities of the several states, of the United States or its territories, the District of Columbia, or the U.S. General Services Administration, for the purpose of combining requirements to increase efficiency or reduce administrative expenses in any acquisition of goods and services.
A public body may purchase from another public body's contract even if it did not participate in the request for proposal or invitation to bid, if the request for proposal or invitation to bid specified that the procurement was being conducted on behalf of other public bodies, except for:

1. Contracts for architectural or engineering services; or
2. Construction in excess of $200,000 by a local public body from the contract of another local public body that is more than a straight line distance of 75 miles from the territorial limits of the local public body procuring the construction. The installation of artificial turf or other athletic surfaces shall not be subject to the limitations prescribed in this subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit sole source or emergency procurements awarded pursuant to subsections E and F of § 2.2-4303.

In instances where any authority, department, agency, or institution of the Commonwealth desires to purchase information technology and telecommunications goods and services from another public body's contract and the procurement was conducted on behalf of other public bodies, such purchase shall be permitted if approved by the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth. Any public body that enters into a cooperative procurement agreement with a county, city, or town whose governing body has adopted alternative policies and procedures pursuant to subdivisions A 9 and A 10 of § 2.2-4343 shall comply with the alternative policies and procedures adopted by the governing body of such county, city, or town.

B. Subject to the provisions of §§ 2.2-1110, 2.2-1111, 2.2-1120 and 2.2-2012, any authority, department, agency, or institution of the Commonwealth may participate in, sponsor, conduct, or administer a cooperative procurement arrangement on behalf of or in conjunction with public bodies, private health or educational institutions or with public agencies or institutions of the several states, territories of the United States, or the District of Columbia, for the purpose of combining requirements to effect cost savings or reduce administrative expense in any acquisition of goods and services, other than professional services. A public body may purchase from any authority, department, agency or institution of the Commonwealth's contract even if it did not participate in the request for proposal or invitation to bid, if the request for proposal or invitation to bid specified that the procurement was being conducted on behalf of other public bodies. In such instances, deviation from the procurement procedures set forth in this chapter and the administrative policies and procedures established to implement this chapter shall be permitted, if approved by the Director of the Division of Purchases and Supply.

Pursuant to § 2.2-2012, such approval is not required if the procurement arrangement is for telecommunications and information technology goods and services of every description. In instances where the procurement arrangement is for telecommunications and information technology goods and services, such arrangement shall be permitted if approved by the Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth. However, such acquisitions shall be procured competitively.

Nothing herein shall prohibit the payment by direct or indirect means of any administrative fee that will allow for participation in any such arrangement.

Washington - Click to print

State of Washington
Revised Code of Washington
Title 39 RCW Public Contracts & Indebtedness
Chapter 39.34 RCW Interlocal Cooperation Act

§ RCW 39.34.020: Definitions.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Public agency" means any agency, political subdivision, or unit of local government of this state including, but not limited to, municipal corporations, quasi municipal corporations, special purpose districts, and local service districts; any agency of the state government; any agency of the United States; any Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal government; and any political subdivision of another state.
(2) "State" means a state of the United States.

§ RCW 39.34.030: Joint powers — Agreements for joint or cooperative action, requisites, effect on responsibilities of component agencies
(1) Any power or powers, privileges or authority exercised or capable of exercise by a public agency of this state may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other public agency of this state having the power or powers, privilege or authority, and jointly with any public agency of any other state or of the United States to the extent that laws of such other state or of the United States permit such joint exercise or enjoyment. Any agency of the state government when acting jointly with any public agency may exercise and enjoy all of the powers, privileges and authority conferred by this chapter upon a public agency.

(2) Any two or more public agencies may enter into agreements with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this chapter: PROVIDED, That any such joint or cooperative action by public agencies which are educational service districts and/or school districts shall comply with the provisions of RCW 28A.320.080. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement may enter into force.

(5) No agreement made pursuant to this chapter shall relieve any public agency of any obligation or responsibility imposed upon it by law except that:
(b) With respect to one or more public agencies purchasing or otherwise contracting through a bid, proposal, or contract awarded by another public agency or by a group of public agencies, any statutory obligation to provide notice for bids or proposals that applies to the public agencies involved is satisfied if the public agency or group of public agencies that awarded the bid, proposal, or contract complied with its own statutory requirements and either (i) posted the bid or solicitation notice on a web site established and maintained by a public agency, purchasing cooperative, or similar service provider, for purposes of posting public notice of bid or proposal solicitations, or (ii) provided an access link on the state's web portal to the notice.

State of Washington
Chapter 61
Laws of 2010
61st Legislature
2010 Regular Session

AN ACT Relating to purchasing authority of institutions of higher education with group purchasing organizations; and amending RCW 28B.10.029. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1 RCW 28B.10.029 and 2004 c 167 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) (a) An institution of higher education may exercise independently those powers otherwise granted to the director of general administration in chapter 43.19 RCW in connection with the purchase and disposition of all material, supplies, services, and equipment needed for the support, maintenance, and use of the respective institution of higher education.
(b) Property disposition policies followed by institutions of higher education shall be consistent with policies followed by the department of general administration.

(c)(i) Except as provided in (c)(ii) and (iii) of this subsection, purchasing policies and procedures followed by institutions of higher education shall be in compliance with chapters 39.19, *39.29, and 43.03 RCW, and RCW **43.19.1901, **43.19.1906, **43.19.1911, 43.19.1917, **43.19.1937, 43.19.685, ***43.19.700 through 43.19.704, and 43.19.560 through 43.19.637.

(ii) Institutions of higher education may use all appropriate means for making and paying for travel arrangements including, but not limited to, electronic booking and reservations, advance payment and deposits for tours, lodging, and other necessary expenses, and other travel transactions based on standard industry practices and federal accountable plan requirements. Such arrangements shall support student, faculty, staff, and other participants' travel, by groups and individuals, both domestic and international, in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible, regardless of the source of funds.

(iii) Formal sealed, electronic, or web-based competitive bidding is not necessary for purchases or personal services contracts by institutions of higher education for less than one hundred thousand dollars. However, for purchases and personal services contracts of ten thousand dollars or more and less than one hundred thousand dollars, quotations must be secured from at least three vendors to assure establishment of a competitive price and may be obtained by telephone, electronic, or written quotations, or any combination thereof. As part of securing the three vendor quotations, institutions of higher education must invite at least one quotation each from a certified minority and a certified woman-owned vendor that otherwise qualifies to perform the work. A record of competition for all such purchases and personal services contracts of ten thousand dollars or more and less than one hundred thousand dollars must be documented for audit purposes.

(d) Purchases under chapter *39.29, 43.19, or 43.105 RCW by institutions of higher education may be made by using contracts for materials, supplies, services, or equipment negotiated or entered into by, for, or through group purchasing organizations.

(e) The community and technical colleges shall comply with RCW 43.19.450.

(f) Except for the University of Washington, institutions of higher education shall comply with RCW 43.19.769, 43.19.763, and 43.19.781.

(g) If an institution of higher education can satisfactorily demonstrate to the director of the office of financial management that the cost of compliance is greater than the value of benefits from any of the following statutes, then it shall be exempt from them: RCW 43.19.685 and 43.19.637.

West Virginia - Click to print

State of West Virginia
West Virginia Code
Chapter 8 Municipal Corporations
Article 23 Intergovernmental Relations
Contracting and Joint Enterprises
Part II Intergovernmental Agreements and Contracts


§ 8-23-2: Definitions.

For the purposes of this article:

(1) The term "public agency" shall mean any municipality, county or other political subdivision of this State, or any county board of education of this State;
(2) The term "public works" shall mean any improvement or project involving an outlay of a capital nature which may be required by or convenient for the purposes of any public agency, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the construction, reconstruction, establishment, acquisition, improvement, renovation, extension, enlargement, increase, equipment, maintenance, repair (including replacements) and operation of jails, jail facilities, municipal buildings, police stations, fire stations, libraries, museums, other public buildings, incinerator plants, land fill or other garbage disposal systems, hospitals, piers, docks, terminals, airports, drainage systems, flood control systems, floodwalls, sewers, culverts, bridges (including approaches, causeways, viaducts, underpasses and connecting roadways), public markets, cemeteries, motor vehicle parking facilities (including parking lots, buildings, ramps, curb-line parking, meters and other facilities deemed necessary, appropriate, useful, convenient or incidental to the regulation, control and parking of motor vehicles), stadiums, gymnasiums, sports arenas, auditoriums, public recreation centers, public recreation parks, swimming pools, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, tennis courts, golf courses, polo grounds, or other public improvements, or the grading, regrading, paving, repaving, surfacing, resurfacing, curbing, recurbing, widening or otherwise improving of any street, avenue, road, alley or way.


§ 8-23-3: Intergovernmental agreements generally.

Any power or powers, privilege or privileges, authority or undertaking, exercised or capable of exercise, or which may be engaged in, and any public works which may be undertaken, by a public agency acting alone may be exercised, enjoyed, engaged in or undertaken jointly with any other public agency which could likewise act alone.

Any two or more public agencies may enter into a written agreement with one another for joint or cooperative action pursuant to the provisions of this section. Appropriate action by ordinance, resolution or otherwise pursuant to law of the governing bodies of the participating public agencies shall be necessary before any such agreement shall become effective. Any separate legal or administrative entity established hereunder is a public corporation and may exist for the length of time set forth in the intergovernmental agreement.


§ 8-23-3a: Joint and cooperative undertakings by certain hospitals.

Any county or municipal hospital or hospital created by special act of the Legislature may enter into a joint or cooperative undertaking pursuant to this article and may further enter into joint or cooperative undertakings with private agencies or corporations in accordance with this section. The expenditure of public funds, allocation of personnel and provision of services for joint and cooperative undertakings are authorized. The undertaking may include the creation of a separate entity to carry out the purpose of the undertaking and, if appropriate in connection with the undertaking, may include provision for the ownership or control of all or a portion of the separate entity by the hospital. The contribution of funds derived from the operation of a hospital, and real or personal property acquired in connection with the operation of the hospital, may be contributed to the joint undertaking or separate entity, if the hospital owns or controls all or a portion of the separate entity or joint undertaking.

Wisconsin - Click to print

State of Wisconsin
Chapter 66 General Municipality Law
Subchapter I General Municipality Law

§ 66.0131: Local governmental purchasing.

(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) "Local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an agency or corporation of a political subdivision or special purpose district, or a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing.
(b) "Recycled or recovered content" has the meaning given in s. 16.70 (13).
(2) Intergovernmental purchases without bids. Notwithstanding any statute requiring bids for public purchases, any local governmental unit may make purchases from another unit of government, including the state or federal government, without the intervention of bids.


Chapter 66 General Municipality Law
Subchapter III Intergovernmental Cooperation

§ 66.0301: Intergovernmental cooperation.

(1) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), in this section "municipality" means the state or any department or agency thereof, or any city, village, town, county, school district, public library system, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, sanitary district, farm drainage district, metropolitan sewerage district, sewer utility district, solid waste management system created under s. 59.70 (2), local exposition district created under subch. II of ch. 229, local professional baseball park district created under subch. III of ch. 229, local professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, local cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, long-term care district under s. 46.2895, water utility district, mosquito control district, municipal electric company, county or city transit commission, commission created by contract under this section, taxation district, regional planning commission, housing authority created under s. 66.1201, redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333, community development authority created under s. 66.1335, or city-county health department. (b) If the purpose of the intergovernmental cooperation is the establishment of a joint transit commission, "municipality" means any city, village, town or county.
(c) For purposes of sub. (6), "municipality" means any city, village, or town.
(2) In addition to the provisions of any other statutes specifically authorizing cooperation between municipalities, unless those statutes specifically exclude action under this section, any municipality may contract with other municipalities and with federally recognized Indian tribes and bands in this state, for the receipt or furnishing of services or the joint exercise of any power or duty required or authorized by law. If municipal or tribal parties to a contract have varying powers or duties under the law, each may act under the contract to the extent of its lawful powers and duties. A contract under this subsection may bind the contracting parties for the length of time specified in the contract. This section shall be interpreted liberally in favor of cooperative action between municipalities and between municipalities and Indian tribes and bands in this state.


§ 66.0303: Municipal interstate cooperation.

(1) In this section, "municipality" has the meaning given in s. 66.0301 (1) (a), except that with regard to agreements described in s. 66.0304, "municipality" includes a political subdivision, as defined in s. 66.0304 (1) (f).
(2) A municipality may contract with municipalities of another state or with federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands located in another state for the receipt or furnishing of services or the joint exercise of any power or duty required or authorized by statute to the extent that laws of the other state or of the United States permit the joint exercise.
(3) (a) Except as provided in par.(b) and s. 66.0825 (18), an agreement made under this section shall, prior to and as a condition precedent to taking effect, be submitted to the attorney general who shall determine whether the agreement is in proper form and compatible with the laws of this state. The attorney general shall approve any agreement submitted under this paragraph unless the attorney general finds that it does not meet the conditions set forth in this section and details in writing addressed to the concerned municipal governing bodies the specific respects in which the proposed agreement fails to meet the requirements of law. Failure to disapprove an agreement submitted under this paragraph within 90 days of its submission constitutes approval. The attorney general, upon submission of an agreement, shall transmit a copy of the agreement to the governor who shall consult with any state department or agency affected by the agreement. The governor shall forward to the attorney general any comments the governor may have concerning the agreement.

Wyoming - Click to print

State of Wyoming
Title 16-City, County, State and Local Powers
Chapter 1-Intergovernmental Cooperation
Article 1-In General


§ 16-1-101: Authority to cooperate.

In exercising, performing or carrying out any power, privilege, authority, duty or function legally vested in any one (1) or more of them by Wyoming law, the state of Wyoming, and any one (1) or more of its counties, municipal corporations, school districts, special districts, public institutions, agencies, boards, commissions and political subdivisions, and any officer or legal representative of any one (1) or more of them, may cooperate with and assist each other, and like entities or authorities of other states, the United States and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes of the Wind River Reservation. Cooperation may be informal or subject to resolution, ordinance or other appropriate action, and may be embodied in a written agreement specifying purposes, duration, means of financing, methods of operations, termination, acquisition and disposition of property, employment of executive and subordinate agents and other appropriate provisions.

§ 16-1-104: Joint powers, functions and facilities; city-county airport board; eligible senior citizen centers.

(a) Any power, privilege or authority exercised or capable of being exercised by an agency may be exercised and enjoyed jointly with any other agency having a similar power, privilege or authority. No cost shall be incurred, debt accrued, nor money expended by any contracting party, which will be in excess of limits prescribed by law. If the joint business council of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian tribes, the business council of the Eastern Shoshone Indian tribe or the business council of the Northern Arapaho Indian tribe participates in a joint powers board under this act with political subdivisions and special districts of Wyoming, the powers of the joint business council, the powers of the business council of the Eastern Shoshone Indian tribe, the powers of the business council of the Northern Arapaho Indian tribe, Wyoming political subdivisions and Wyoming special districts are neither increased or decreased by that participation. Rather the participation of the joint business council, the business council of the Eastern Shoshone Indian tribe or the business council of the Northern Arapaho Indian tribe is intended to facilitate implementation of programs and projects designed to more effectively benefit Wyoming's citizens.

(b) A county may enter into and operate under a joint powers agreement with one (1) or more counties, cities, school districts or community college districts for the performance of any function that the county, city, school district or community college district is authorized to perform, except the planning, expansion, creation, financing or operation of municipally owned electrical facilities.