Make It Easy to Say Yes: Takeaways from TXShare Office Hours Session 3 Winning Your First Cooperative Quote

Winning a TXShare contract is just the beginning. Now it's time to turn that award into opportunity.

In Session 3 of the TXShare Supplier Office Hours series, “Winning Your First Cooperative Quote,” suppliers got an inside look at what happens when an agency requests pricing through a cooperative contract on the platform, and what separates the responses that win from the ones that stall.

The session was led by Craigan Johnson, Purchasing Agent at NCTCOG/TXShare, alongside Christel Tristan, Engagement Director at Civic Marketplace, and Carlo Paraggio, Supplier Account Manager at Civic Marketplace.

Know Your Award Before You Quote

Every strong response starts with knowing exactly what you were awarded.

Your TXShare contract sets the products and services you can offer and the maximum prices you can charge. You can always come in lower to compete, but you can’t go outside your awarded scope or terms.

This is where otherwise easy purchases get stuck. One out-of-scope line item or a price that doesn’t match your contract can send the buyer back to square one. Check your award before you hit submit.

Answer the Questions Before the Buyer Asks Them

When an agency requests a cooperative quote, it chooses which suppliers to invite, lays out its needs and sets a deadline. Invited suppliers are notified and respond directly through Civic Marketplace.

The price is only part of what the buyer is weighing. The responses that stand out:

1. Address the agency’s specifications point by point
2. Spell out pricing so it’s easy to compare against the contract
3. Commit to clear delivery timelines
4. Include the documentation the agency needs to move forward

Every question a buyer doesn’t have to chase down is a reason to choose you.

And if the opportunity isn’t a fit, decline it. A quick, clear “no” helps the agency move on and reflects better on you than silence.

Stay Ready So You Never Miss a Request

You can’t win a quote you never see.

Agencies can only invite suppliers who are active on the applicable contract. Keep your Civic Marketplace profile complete, your contacts current and your notifications on, so the request reaches the right person the moment it’s sent.

Responding through Civic Marketplace also keeps everything in one place, giving agencies a clear record of requests, responses and purchasing decisions. That kind of transparency makes buying from you easier the next time, too.

The Bottom Line

Session 3 came down to three habits:

1. Know your award.
2. Stay ready.
3. Make it easy for agencies to say yes.

Your contract makes you eligible. A clear, complete and competitive response is what earns the buyer’s confidence and the purchase.