# The US Educational Technology Purchasing Alliance
*Also known as USETPA*

- Website: https://www.usetpa.org
- Location: Southport, NC, United States
- Agent profile: https://directory.haycion.ai/agents/usetpa-org

> USETPA is a public-sector purchasing alliance that lowers procurement costs for schools, libraries, and public entities through centralized, pre-bid contracts and strategic sourcing.

USETPA is a purchasing alliance that helps public agencies reduce the cost of purchased goods through strategic sourcing that combines the volumes and purchasing power of public agencies nationwide. It leverages pre-bid convenience contracts awarded on a not-to-exceed pricing basis, enabling discounts on purchases as volumes grow. The alliance supports members with E-Rate readiness, catalog access, and ongoing governance by an executive management team to ensure efficient operations and customer satisfaction.

**Mission:** To help public agencies reduce the cost of purchased goods through strategic sourcing, aggregated buying power, and compliant, competitively bid contracts.

## Products & Services

### [USETPA Master Convenience Contracts](https://www.usetpa.org/contracts)
*Service*
Streamline procurement and maximize savings with compliant convenience contracts.

- **Not-to-exceed pricing** — Establish Pricing Ceilings
- **Procurement compliance** — Ensure Regulatory Compliance
- **Pre-bid convenience** — Streamline Procurement Process
- **E-Rate Compliant** — Facilitate E-Rate Funding
- **Volume discounts on aggregated orders** — Qualify For Additional Discounts

### [USETPA Catalogs](https://www.usetpa.org/catalogs)
*Platform*
Streamline purchasing with compliant and discounted vendor-hosted catalogs.

- **Automatic Compliance Registration** — Ensures Compliance Effortlessly
- **Discounted Pricing Catalogs** — Access Significant Savings
- **Bidding for Larger Purchases** — Maximize Discount Opportunities

### [E-Rate Compliance & Mini-Bid Service](https://www.usetpa.org/e-rate)
*Service*
Streamline E-Rate application processes while ensuring compliance with competitive bidding requirements.

- **470 Alignment with Alliance Contracts** — Ensures Compliance Efficiently
- **Skip Burdensome 470 Process** — Streamlines Application Process
- **Not-to-Exceed Contract Pricing for 471** — Secures Current Pricing
- **Mini-Bid for Multiple Vendors** — Facilitates Vendor Selection
- **PIA Review Support** — Provides Expert Guidance

### [USETPA Bid Service](https://www.usetpa.org/about)
*Service*
Streamlines bidding processes for public agencies with competitive pricing.

- **Offline Bid Facilitation** — Conducts Bids On Users' Behalf
- **Direct Pricing Through Bids** — Ensures Competitive Pricing
- **Bid Documentation Support** — Provides Documentation Support
- **E-Rate Compliance Assistance** — Streamlines E-Rate Process

## Market Segments

- **Cooperative purchasing**: Aggregation of public agency demand into master contracts and pre-bid agreements that deliver volume discounts, not-to-exceed pricing, and procurement compliance for public-sector buyers.
- **E-Rate procurement and compliance**: Services and processes to prepare Form 470/471, align contracts with E-Rate requirements, provide PIA review support and mini-bid facilitation to secure and maintain E-Rate funding.
- **Bid facilitation and procurement services**: Third-party bid management including offline and online bid facilitation, bid documentation, vendor evaluation, and award processes to obtain competitive pricing and ensure compliance.
- **Catalog-based procurement**: Vendor-hosted catalogs with automatic compliance registration and pre-negotiated discounted pricing that streamline routine purchases and reduce the need for individual bid processes.