Audits and Studies

Below is a list of audits and studies relating to cooperative procurement.  (Click on the title to download the document.)

Pennsylvania: Ducker-Carlisle Reports –  Open-Bid vs AEPA-Tremco Costs in PA Roofs – Independent study of average open-bid roofing costs in PA vs. costs from AEPA-Tremco projects in PA.

Maryland: Legislative Audit Agency Report on Open-Bid vs. Cooperative Procurement – Maryland Legislative Audit Agency’s report on Baltimore County’s use of cooperative procurement program for school roofing projects; cites an excess expenditure of $11 MM over the comparable cost of open-bid procurement, on projects in nine schools over three years.

Maryland: EXCERPT FROM – Legislative Audit Agency Report on Open-Bid vs. Cooperative Procurement – Excerpt of the key findings of the Maryland Legislative Audit Agency’s report on Baltimore County’s use of cooperative procurement program for school roofing projects; cites an excess expenditure of $11 MM over the comparable cost of open-bid procurement, on projects in nine schools over three years.

Indiana: State Attorney General’s Official Opinion about Schools and Cooperative Procurement Groups – Concludes “that school corporations are covered by the public work statute and are subject to the procedures for bids and quotes whenever they contract for public work even when the public work is contracted through an educational service center.” The educational service center cited is AEPA, which is one of the major cooperative procurement providers for school districts in more than 20 states. This is the Indiana Attorney General’s opinion that AEPA cannot circumvent the state’s competitive bidding laws by claiming the work is repair or maintenance.

Indiana: State Auditor General’s Report – Detailed analysis of the operation of cooperative purchasing by the State’s Educational Service Centers in conjunction with AEPA; highlights the instances where the Center’s application of AEPA requirements is not in compliance with State public purchasing law and with the State public work law.

Minnesota: State Auditor’s Letter to St. Cloud Schools – Office of the State Auditor review and recommendations regarding the bidding procedure used by the St. Cloud Area School District for roofing repair projects.

New Jersey: Waste And Abuse: Public School Roofing Projects – Details the results of a comprehensive, statewide inquiry into  the repair and replacement of roof systems.  Investigation revealed evidence of widespread cost-gouging; unscrupulous bidding practices; contract manipulation; questionable design, installation and inspection procedures and other abuses.

Texas: Interim Report to the 83rd Legislature by House Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform – Project to examine and make recommendations on purchasing cooperatives created under Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, including the bid process and the role of inter-local contracts. Clarify for consistency the following terms: purchasing cooperatives, inter-local contracts, and inter-local agreements.