Our partnership with Batteries Plus is a model for the future

Last week we announced our new Batteries Plus cooperative contract, available now for agencies nationwide on Civic Marketplace. Today, I want to talk about why that contract represents more than just access to reliable power, lighting, and repair solutions. To us, it’s a glimpse of the future of public sector procurement that the Alliance for Innovation and our partners are building. 

Hard-working local government officials deserve a procurement system that accelerates the work they are trying to do for their communities, rather than putting obstacles in their path. One that saves time, reduces risk, and strengthens communities. 

Our members at the Alliance for Innovation wanted a co-op because it can do just that. A cooperative’s pre-vetted contracts let agencies act quickly and confidently, avoid expensive mistakes, and make decisions at the speed of agency need.

The partnership with Batteries Plus is one of the most significant milestones we’ve achieved since our co-op was formed in February this year. We partnered with the folks at Edge Public to vet and find the right, compliant supplier for this particular batteries and lighting contract. It delivers immediate value for our members but it is also a great example of what we’re trying to build on a grander scale. 

Buy fast, buy local

The Batteries Plus contract provides an average of 30% savings per item and immediate access to a wide range of critical battery power and lighting solutions, including batteries for emergency backup systems, fleet and facility maintenance, UPS units, and mobile technology, as well as energy-efficient lighting options. 

By conducting the competitive solicitation on behalf of our members, we are able to streamline procurement processes for agencies, and give them the reassurance that, when they need to, they can move fast without compromising on quality or value. This doesn’t just save time for your procurement team; with hurricane season fast-approaching, the ability to act rapidly can be invaluable.

The partnership is also a perfect demonstration of how public procurement innovation can deliver benefits to every part of the ecosystem. Batteries Plus operates a franchise arrangement so their stores are directly owned by local people. Getting these local businesses involved in local government contracts helps grow their companies and puts them on a more equal playing field with the big national suppliers.

It can also have a significant impact on local economies. The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond surveyed recent studies and found that an additional $1 of government spending increased local GDP by $1.30 to $2. Given that local government budgets are funded by local tax dollars, it’s only right that those dollars are, where possible, reinvested locally. It’s another way for local government leaders to support their community.

The future is cooperative

Cities, big and small, face the same challenges and the same growing pressures on resources. A co-op lets them share expertise, avoid costly mistakes, and tap into a community of peers solving the same problems. 

We work hard to listen to our members. We have a diverse range of products coming forward via cooperative contracts and are really excited to act on members’ feedback to meet their most pressing needs. 

We spend a lot of time on the legal aspects of cooperative purchasing arrangements in order to make procurement feel very easy for our members. Ultimately we believe purchasing goods and services for your agency should be as simple and reliable as going online and doing internet shopping – but with more direct benefits to the local economy and community.

A co-op also makes it easier for cities to be forward-looking and more attractive partners for innovative suppliers. Vendors see a more efficient path to market, which opens up the opportunity for pilot programs and positions the public sector as a viable place to implement the latest technologies. 

The future of procurement is cooperative. So check out the Batteries Plus cooperative contract and, if you haven’t already, join the Alliance for Innovation. Even if your agency doesn’t need batteries right now, we think you’ll want to be part of the procurement model that delivers them.

‍For entities interested in joining AFI please reach out to troyriggs@transformgov.org.