ABOUT TIPS/TAPS

The Interlocal Purchasing System(TIPS/
TAPS) is sponsored by the Region VIII
Education Service Center (ESC8) located
at 4845 Highway 271 North,
Pittsburg, Texas 75686 and is governed
by the Region 8 ESC Board of
Directors. The Interlocal Purchasing
System is available for use by all
public and private schools, colleges,
universities, cities, counties, and other
government entities in the states of Arkansas,
Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico,
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee,
Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

The TIPS/TAPS Program takes PRIDE in providing a purchasing coop where Awarded Vendors and Members both benefit. With a successful award, a vendor can expedite an order for a member because all purchasing requirements are completed during the RFP process. A school district or other TIPS/TAPS Member can benefit from the cost savings of time and expense in competitively bidding each purchase.

The Purpose of TIPS/TAPS

• Provide school districts and other governmental entities opportunities for greater efficiency and economy in acquiring goods and services.
• Take advantage of state-of-the-art purchasing procedures to insure the most competitive contracts.
• Provide competitively priced solicitation and bulk purchasing for multiple government entities that yields economic benefits unobtainable by individual entities.
• Provide quick and efficient delivery of goods and services by contracting with "high performance" vendors.
• Equalize purchasing power for smaller entities that are not able to command the best contracts for themselves.
• Maintain credibility and confidence in business procedures by maintaining open competition for purchases and by complying with purchasing laws and ethical business practices.
• Assist entities in maintaining the essential controls for budget and accounting purposes.