Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), working with and for its member districts, has developed a wide array of cost-effective and high-quality programs and services. A component of this is cooperative purchasing. By offering competitively bid products and supplies, CREC accomplishes an important goal: Saving school districts time and money.

CREC’s philosophy regarding cooperatively bid programs encompasses the following:

• All bids must be publicized so that all vendors have an opportunity to respond
• All bids are evaluated and awarded based upon the total offer – lowest price, ability to offer the exact product requested, ability to deliver and customer service

CREC has a two-fold approach to these offers. First, when feasible, CREC develops it own competitively bid programs (in collaboration with Arum & Associates). Secondly, CREC sponsors and promotes national competitively bid programs to complement CREC’s in-state offers. With this philosophy, CREC taps into the expertise of other programs who offer value and competitive prices.

These local and national programs are available to all CT public and private school districts, towns and municipalities, libraries and non-profit organizations.

In regards to fuel, CREC promotes programs which are not competitively bid, but are opportunities to procure discounted, volume based prices.

We continually do research to understand the market, improve our offers, and work with vendors to resolve problems. Our programs are endorsed by CT RESC Alliance and are available to districts throughout the state.

CREC’s Cooperative Purchasing program is one more way that we provide cost-effective solutions to public education challenges.

Click here to download the CREC Cooperative Purchasing Opportunities flyer.