ALM Enorsed Programs, U.S. Communities

U.S. Communities

www.gogreencommunities.org www.uscommunities.org

The Alabama League of Municipalities is pleased to announce that it has joined the National League of Cities (NLC) as a sponsor of the US Communities Government Purchasing Alliance. This program provides cities and towns in Alabama with the opportunity to piggyback on competitively bid contracts, take advantage of the enormous collective purchasing power of public agencies nationwide, and leverage these savings to their own advantage.

US Communities was jointly founded by the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, National Institute of Government Purchasing, United States Conference of Mayors, and the Association of School Business Officials International to provide high quality government contracts to all U.S. local governments.

Through contracts with such nationally recognized companies as Office Depot, Auto Zone, Home Depot, GTSI, Little Tikes, Herman Miller, Ricoh-Savin, and many other suppliers, U.S. Communities currently offers thousands of products in the categories of office supplies, furniture, computers and technology, electrical and data supplies, janitorial supplies, carpeting and flooring, parks and play equipment, public safety and homeland security solutions, and auto parts and accessories.

The U.S. Communities program is easy to use. There is no fee to participate, no minimum spending and only a simple electronic registration is required. This flexible program is a wonderful tool for your purchasing and procurement officials.

Section 41-16-51(16), Code of Ala. 1975, and Attorney General Opinion 2007-011 give Alabama municipalities authority to use this program provided certain criteria are met. Such purchases may only be made if all of the following occur:

• The goods being purchased are available as a result of a competitive bid process approved by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts for each bid.
• The goods are either not at the time available on the state purchasing program or are available at a price equal to or less than that on the state purchasing program.
• The purch ase is made through a participating Alabama vendor holding an Alabama business license if such a vendor exists.

To see a set of suggested procedures for using U.S. Communities, please click
SUGGESTED PROCEDURES. Please feel free to contact Ken Smith at the League
(334-262-2566 or Email ) or Marc Shapiro at the National League of Cites
(202-626-3019 or Email) with any questions.