When Osseo Area Schools in Minnesota wanted to purchase three FieldTurf fields for their district 279 schools, they chose to utilize the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) as their method of procurement. They were excited to hear that NJPA offered the FieldTurf products and services they were looking for.
When asked if he was happy with the process, Ray Kirch, Activities Director at Osseo High School replied, “Using FieldTurf and the NJPA cooperative purchasing process was a great option for the Osseo Area School District. We were pleased when we found out that FieldTurf was available through NJPA. We were very happy with how it worked out using NJPA to purchase our synthetic field.”
When asked what they specifically liked about the process Mr. Kirch replied, “We appreciated the idea of ‘cutting to the chase’ with pricing and options through the NJPA process. We were able to get the turf we wanted at a price that was in our budget.”
Using NJPA is a simple and efficient process. FieldTurf’s products have already been bid at the national level, eliminating the duplication of the bid process. All bidding requirements have already been satisfied so the owner doesn’t have to deal with the large amount of paperwork required when putting out an RFB or RFP.
When an owner chooses to procure FieldTurf through NJPA, they retain greater control over their project, enjoy preferential pricing and get the product they want. The bid process can leave the owner vulnerable to inexperienced contractors who offer low bids, often resulting in poor product quality and a disappointed owner. Mr. Kirch wanted FieldTurf and he had the power to choose through NJPA.
Mr. Kirch goes on to mention that, “we would certainly consider the NJPA process whenever we had a sports surfacing need come up in our district. It is a relatively pain-free process.” This statement is a true testament to the success of the NJPA cooperative purchasing process. It gives the owner what they want without all the hassle.
