Why Cooperative Contracts Matter for Government IT Teams 

Government IT leaders and their teams are under constant pressure to modernize infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and deliver better digital services, all while working within tight budgets and procurement rules. Cooperative contracts can sometimes feel like another layer of red tape to your team. However, when used strategically, they are one of the most powerful tools available to speed up IT procurement, save money, and reduce risk for your organization. 

What Is a Cooperative Contract? 

A cooperative contract is an agreement that has already been competitively solicited and awarded by a lead public agency or cooperative purchasing organization to find suppliers who are responsive, responsible, and offer the goods or services solicited at a reasonable price point. By leveraging these awarded contracts, government entities can purchase IT products and services without having to run their own lengthy RFP or bid process. Governments can purchase directly, for the same product or service specifications, off of the existing contract.  

Often, pricing is heavily discounted with cooperative contracts as it is a larger volume of expected product/service offerings sold. As a government entity, you can leverage this buying power to gain a price advantage. Instead of getting pricing on 50 laptops that you need, your price offers you a greater volume discount as multiple governments are purchasing that same (or greater) volume.  

Cooperative contracts have gained more traction over the last decade due to efficiency, compliance, and time savings.  

Why Cooperative Contracts Are Worth It 

• Time savings: Skip the months-long bid cycle—contracts are already vetted and ready for use. 

• Cost efficiency: Benefit from the collective buying power of hundreds of agencies, which usually means better pricing than going it alone. 

• Compliance assurance: Cooperative contracts are structured to meet state and local procurement laws, minimizing risk for your team. 

• Vendor access: Top IT brands and services are often available through co-ops, making it easier to get the right solutions quickly. 

SCW participates in many statewide contracts and national cooperative contracts that were competitively bid and awarded. This gives other government organizations multiple paths to acquire technology solutions through SCW in a way that is both compliant and efficient. 

Practical Tips for IT Leaders 

1. Communicate Your Needs Early 
   When you’re planning a project, let us know details like timeline, scope, and product preferences. The more we know, the more effectively we can match your needs with the right contract vehicle. 

1. Check Eligibility With Procurement 
   Not every agency can use every cooperative contract. Ask your procurement team which co-ops your organization is authorized to use, and whether there are policies about preferred contracts. This step prevents roadblocks later. We can help with that bridge too with a list of all our cooperative contracts, available by state: State Contracts | Southern Computer Warehouse 

1. Keep Options Open 
   If your procurement team allows access to multiple co-ops, ask vendors to show you the contract that offers the best value and coverage for your specific project. SCW’s broad portfolio of awarded contracts often means we can provide options tailored to your agency’s policies. Sometimes this is called “co-op shopping”.  

1. Use Co-ops Beyond IT Equipment  
   Many cooperative contracts cover not just IT hardware, but also many types and brands of software. In addition, installation, support, and consulting may also be included with the contract terms. With SCW’s nationwide service capabilities, you can simplify complex projects by sourcing multiple needs through a single contract. 

1. Stay Current 
   Cooperative contracts are periodically re-bid or updated. Work with vendors who stay plugged into these changes, so you always have access to the most current options. SCW’s team actively tracks contract updates and new awards so our customers don’t have to. View our current statewide and cooperative contracts here: State Contracts | Southern Computer Warehouse 

Cooperative contracts are not red tape. They are a fast track to compliant, cost-effective IT procurement. By engaging with vendors early and aligning with your procurement team, you can turn co-ops into a strategic advantage that helps you deliver the right technology to your agency on time and on budget. 

SCW has been serving state, local government, and education customers for decades, and our experience with a wide range of competitively awarded cooperative contracts makes us a reliable partner to help agencies get IT right the first time.