News and Information

(Updated 3/12/2009)

 

We are now getting ready for the spring meeting of the AEPA members held in middle of April.  The main purpose of the meeting is to decide what new bids should be done.  So if you have any good ideas, please let us know.  We will also be meeting with the various vendors we have contracts with.  If you would like to see an improvement in any of the services, we can let them know. 

 

The following bids have now been dropped form the How to Order Guide: Administrative Software --- Learn Key; Food Service Management Software --- School Link Technologies and Pacific Triangle.  Most of the existing bids that we have are still in place and have been renewed for another year. They may be viewed on our web by clicking on How to Order.  Bids are not renewed because they are not being used or the bidder is not meeting terms and conditions of the bid.

On May 25th of 2006, we opened the bid for food with Food Services of America; (FSA) being the successful bidder.  The bid ends June 30, 2009 and will be rebid again this spring.  This bid is saving a number of schools money with many actually in the black for the first time.  Most MCS members are taking advantage of this bid with savings averaging 20%.  You may join at any time of the year and will not be held to buying 60% (a condition of the bid) of last years food purchases for the remainder of this year.  If you wish to join, email me and I will send the forms to you (Or you may download them from the front page).

In the spring of last year we started a process to rebid the manufacturing side of the food bid.  The combined volume of five states (New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming) is used to bring lower prices into the warehouses.  We continue with a new bid from the manufacturers each semester. 

You may buy over the bid limit of $50,000 from any of the companies MCS has bids with without bidding, since the coop has already done the bidding.  Please refer to MCA 20-9-204 (3) "--- or as provided in subsection (4)".  As a member, you have a cooperative purchasing agreement with MCS and MCS follows all requirements of subsection (4).

I have put together a "How to Order" fact sheet that I update frequently.  New and existing members will find this helpful when placing orders. 

CDWG has their web page www.cdwg.com/mtcoop set up so you can order online.  This is quite convenient.  Almost anything you need that is technology can be ordered from this site.  You need to set up your account first, and then a reduced prices web page comes up for Montana

September 1st is the registration date for all members.  Register now you will be a member until August 31, 2009.  To register your schools just fill out an application.  MCS has lowered the dues and they are now $1.00/student instead of the $1.50/student plus $50.00.  We have been able to do this because of the increased number of schools that have joined and the increased usage of the bids.  Our membership is now over100 schools, up from 95 last year.  We also changed the end of our year to August 31. 

All our vendors can be found on the Company Contracts page.

Be sure to get the cooperative prices we have obtained.  Just let the vendor know that you want the cooperative price you get as a member of MCS.  It's as simple as that.

If you have any questions, please call 406-488-6247 or e-mail.  Rhonda Houston is also available for questions about bids.  She will be calling on some of you to see if you need anything and answer any questions.    rhonda@mtcoop.org or call 406-698-4941. 

Frank Loehding
Executive Director
 
 


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