1. PACE Purchasing Cooperative

2. About the PACE Purchasing Cooperative
The Purchasing Association of Cooperative Entities (PACE) is designed to give its members additional awarded contract tools to assist their entities in meeting bidding requirements, saving valuable staff resources.  PACE finds vendors to assist members in meeting their operation goals and save funds when obtaining best value supplies.  PACE was created by Education Service Center, Region 13 in Austin, Texas and Education Service Center, Region 20 in San Antonio, Texas.  PACE is administered by Education Service Center, Region 20.   Education Service Center, Region 20 was established by the Texas Legislature in 1967 to assist school districts and charter schools in improving efficiencies and student performance.  Region education service centers are non-regulatory, intermediate education units.  Texas Education Code, Chapter 8, gives each school district the opportunity to voluntarily be served by and participate with a regional educational service center. PACE welcomes public and government entities, including cities, counties, independent school districts, higher education institutions, non-profit agencies, political subdivisions, and others.

3.
All PACE contracts are competitively bid, evaluated, approved and awarded. PACE’s primary lead agency is Region 20, Education Service Center, a government entity that was established in 1967 by the State of Texas under Chapter 8 of the Texas Education Code. Because of this structure, Region 20 is PACE’s primary beneficiary.
PACE contracts are available for the use and benefit of entities complying with state procurement laws and regulations (public and private schools, colleges and universities, cities, counties, non- profits, and all governmental entities).
PACE does bids, so that its PACE members can use any agreement without going out to bid. This saves the members lots of time and money.

4. PACE legalities in Texas (and has similar authority in other States)
GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
CHAPTER 791. INTERLOCAL COOPERATION CONTRACTS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
EDUCATION CODE
TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION
SUBTITLE I. SCHOOL FINANCE AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 44. FISCAL MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER A. SCHOOL DISTRICT FISCAL MANAGEMENT

5. Why should a local government or agency join PACE?
Provides government agencies opportunities for greater efficiency and economy in acquiring goods and services
Takes advantage of state-of-the-art purchasing procedures to insure the most competitive contracts
Provides competitive price solicitation and bulk purchasing for multiple government agencies that yield economic benefits unobtainable by the individual entity
Provides quick and efficient delivery of goods and services by contracting with high performance vendors
Equalizes purchasing power for smaller agencies that are unable to command the best contracts due to size limitations
Maintains credibility and confidence in business procedures by maintaining open competition for purchases and by complying with purchasing laws and ethical business practices

6. PACE Purchasing Cooperative
PACE currently has about 975 members. There are Cities, Counties, Colleges and Universities, School Districts, local government agencies and non-profits.
PACE has members in Texas, and 30 other states across the nation.
There is never a membership charge or fee to be a PACE member.
Local Governments can join by completing an interlocal agreement form found on the PACE web site.

7. Some of PACE’s bids Audio, Visual Building Cleaning Services
Disaster Recovery
Building Repair & Maintenance
Copiers
Chemical, Jan-San
Electronic Computing Products
Employee Benefit Administration
Janitorial & Sanitation Supplies
Enterprise Content Management
Fine Paper Products
First Aid & Safety
HVAC
Texas Job Order Contracting
Industrial Supplies
Landscaping Services
Musical Instruments and Supplies and Accessories
Office Supplies, Furniture
Telephone, Network & Security
Printing Services
Public Safety Equipment and Apparel
Soundproofing & Noise Control
Waste Collections

8. PACE Purchasing Cooperative
Please go to to see all the awarded contracted vendors listed on the site.
All interlocal agreements and on-line membership registrations are also on the PACE site. (click on Membership)

9. To Contact PACE Jim Metzger – Coordinator Jim.Metzger@esc20.net