LMR JUNE 2021

LaMATS Invites Members to New Cooperative
Purchasing Joint Commission (LACPC)
The evolution of
LaMATS procurement
assistance
services
took a big leap
forward this
year with the
establishment of
the first municipal Cooperative Purchasing
Joint Commission (LACPC),
a member-controlled administrative
body designed specifically for Louisiana
municipalities and other local
governments.
Developed in accordance with the
Local Services Law (La. R.S. 33:1322
et seq.,), which allows political subdivisions
to cooperate and administer
purchasing of materials, supplies
and equipment through a joint
commission, the new LaMATS-administered
commission invites all
Louisiana local governments to
join, free of charge or obligation, by
passing the appropriate resolution
and appointing a commission representative.
“The benefits of joining the LACPC
are tremendous,” said Cliff Palmer,
LaMATS Executive Director. “Virtually
any commodity municipalities
need can be purchased more
cheaply on volume.” Cooperative
purchasing contracts, such as the
LACPC will create, provide outsized
benefit to smaller municipalities,
as their buying power grows with
every new member that joins. The
LACPC will also help alleviate the
strain placed on larger municipalities’
purchasing staffs. By creating
contracts that comply with the legal
requirements, LACPC will become
their “go-to” contract source.
The administrative burden normally
accompanying the establishment of
joint purchasing contracts between
political subdivisions
will be
borne primarily
by LaMATS with
the assistance
and direction
of the Commission.
“We’ll
do most of the leg-work of issuing
solicitations, establishing prices
and drafting contracts at no cost
to members,” explained Palmer,
“saving local governments in administrative
hassle
as well as annual
budgets.” LaMATS
will also assure
that all contracts
offered for cooperative
purchases
meet the requirements
of the public
bid laws and public
service laws, and
will assist participants
with any
necessary audit of purchases made
under contract through the LACPC.
A participant-accessible website
will list all available LACPC contracts
and serve as a portal for
sharing news and events related
to the Commission’s operations.
Use of any purchasing contracts
established by the Commission
is voluntary, and a participating
local government is free to withdraw
from the Commission with no
penalty.
“This is an historic opportunity
for Louisiana municipalities,” said
LaMATS Board President, Mayor
Jennifer Vidrine of Ville Platte.
“Finally our many small to midsized
communities will have the
joint purchasing power that our
larger cities have always enjoyed.
We hope every local government
will appoint a representative to the
LACPC and help make this a blockbuster
resource for all of us.”
A resolution for participating in the
Joint Commission and for appointing
a representative is available for
download at LaMATS.net and also
with the QR-code accompanying
this story. By the time of this publication,
the LACPC will be underway
with established founding member
municipalities, ready to enjoy cooperative
purchasing opportunities.
To inquire about this exciting leap
forward in Louisiana local government
procurement, contact Cliff
Palmer or Paul Holmes at LaMATS:
(225) 344-5001.
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LMR | JUNE 2021