Cooperative Purchasing

Contact the office for more information (412) 462-7600.

 

Several years ago the South Hills Area Council of Governments took on a joint purchasing venture, premised on the idea that bulk buying would produce discounted prices. Having proven extremely successful for the South Hills communities, the other seven Allegheny County COGs were eventually invited to participate.  SHACOG now serves as the coordinating and administrative entity for the 120 COG affiliated municipalities participating in what is now known as the SHACOG Purchasing Alliance. 

The administrative responsibilities (product surveys, specification development, advertising and bid tabulation) are vested in SHACOG and the participating communities generally retain the right to purchase only those products and those amounts which they require. 

Products range from ammunition for police to swimming pool chemicals to rock salt.  The latter item — rock salt — is perhaps the best indicator of the program's success.  Our collective buying power (in excess of 100,000 tons) has historically resulted in prices lower than the City, County and even the State.  New products are added as requested with recent successful additions being police cars and public works vehicles.

 The Purchasing Alliance has also undertaken special bids for expensive but infrequently purchased items such as police car video cameras and sanitary sewer flow monitors.  In addition, organizations such as the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program, recognizing the experience and proficiency developed, have utilized the services of the Purchasing Alliance for special bids.

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