TIPS/TAPS

TIPS/TAPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System / Texas Association of Public Purchasers) is a cooperative purchasing program administered by the Region 8 Education Service Center in Texas, offering government agencies, school districts, and public institutions nationwide access to competitively solicited vendor contracts.

What is TIPS/TAPS?

TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) is administered by Region 8 Education Service Center in Mount Pleasant, Texas, one of Texas's 20 regional educational service centers. TAPS (Texas Association of Public Purchasers) is an affiliated cooperative purchasing program operating under the same umbrella.

TIPS/TAPS authorizes purchases under Texas Government Code Chapter 791 (Interlocal Cooperation Contracts) and Texas Education Code Chapter 44. The cooperative structure allows Texas public entities and national members from participating states to purchase from TIPS/TAPS awarded contracts without conducting separate competitive solicitations, satisfying their own jurisdiction's purchasing requirements through TIPS/TAPS's competitive process.

TIPS/TAPS covers:

• Technology hardware, software, and IT services
• Custodial supplies and facilities products
• Furniture, classroom equipment, and educational technology
• Security products and services
• Vehicles and transportation equipment
• Professional development and training services
• Construction and maintenance services

TIPS/TAPS is particularly widely used within the Texas K-12 education community, school districts, charter networks, and community colleges frequently use TIPS/TAPS contracts for technology and facilities purchases. Nationally, TIPS/TAPS has expanded its member base through cooperative agreement structures similar to other education-focused cooperatives.

While smaller than Sourcewell, NASPO ValuePoint, or OMNIA Partners in national reach, TIPS/TAPS provides a legitimate cooperative purchasing option, particularly valuable for companies targeting Texas education markets.

Why TIPS/TAPS matters for government contractors

For technology and facilities vendors targeting Texas K-12 education specifically, TIPS/TAPS is a useful supplementary cooperative alongside BuyBoard. The combined Texas education cooperative footprint, BuyBoard + TIPS/TAPS, reaches virtually every Texas school district. Companies that have won BuyBoard awards often pursue TIPS/TAPS as well to ensure their products are accessible through every purchasing cooperative Texas districts use. The duplicative coverage is intentional: some district purchasing directors prefer one cooperative over another, and having contracts on multiple cooperatives ensures sales opportunities are not lost to vehicle preference.

Example

An EdTech company providing virtual tutoring services wins a TIPS/TAPS contract for educational technology services. The company actively markets the TIPS/TAPS contract to Texas school districts, particularly in the northeast Texas region where Region 8 ESC has particularly deep relationships. A Tyler ISD curriculum coordinator selects the company's tutoring platform through TIPS/TAPS, $68,000 for the school year's program, citing TIPS/TAPS as the cooperative vehicle that satisfies the district's purchasing requirements. The company's dual coverage on BuyBoard and TIPS/TAPS ensures it can reach Texas districts regardless of which cooperative the purchasing staff prefers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use TIPS/TAPS contracts?

Texas public entities, school districts, municipalities, counties, state agencies, can use TIPS/TAPS contracts to satisfy state competitive purchasing requirements. Nationally, entities in states that recognize TIPS/TAPS's competitive solicitation process through intergovernmental cooperation agreements can also access TIPS/TAPS contracts. The primary member base is Texas education, with expanding national membership.

How does TIPS/TAPS compare to BuyBoard for Texas education markets?

Both serve Texas K-12 education through Texas law's interlocal purchasing authority. BuyBoard (TASB) has broader Texas coverage and national reach. TIPS/TAPS has deeper penetration in northeast Texas specifically (Region 8's service area) and is the preferred cooperative for many school districts in that region. Companies targeting Texas K-12 comprehensively typically hold both, as some districts have a strong institutional preference for one over the other.

Is TIPS/TAPS a federal program?

No. TIPS/TAPS is a state and local government cooperative purchasing program established under Texas law. It has no connection to federal procurement programs or the FAR. Companies using TIPS/TAPS to reach state and local markets should maintain their federal vehicle relationships separately.

How does a vendor apply for TIPS/TAPS?

TIPS/TAPS issues solicitations for specific categories through its vendor registration portal and public bid notices. Vendors apply by submitting proposals that demonstrate pricing, product/service quality, and compliance with the program's requirements. Awards are made following evaluation of submitted proposals under competitive purchasing criteria. Awarded vendors pay a small administrative fee on sales through the cooperative.