Cooperative Purchasing Insights

Preparing to Open: Do you Have Everything on the Janitorial Products Checklist?

April 13, 2021 / by Network Services Company posted in K-12 Education, Janitorial & Sanitation

As many schools reimagine their operations beyond COVID-19, they will need to address a new set of concerns and needs. Students, teachers, staff and parents have returned with a heightened sensitivity to cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation. This “new normal” raises expectations that could determine the success and reputation for facilities moving forward.

To help you respond to these new expectations, NETWORK^® has compiled information and potential solutions to help navigate these new challenges. Download the Reopening Checklist for Janitorial Supplies to identify materials to use when cleaning and disinfecting various areas within your facility.

State University Provides 9,000 Apple iPad Devices to Class of 2024

April 1, 2021 / by SHI posted in Higher Education, Information Technology

As the COVID-19 pandemic quickly established what we now know as our “new normal,” many organizations were forced to switch to a new, remote way of doing business – universities included. This state university was able to utilize the SHI OMNIA Partners contract to provide 9,000 Apple iPads to the freshman class.

6 Ways To Ensure Patients with LEP Have A Seamless Covid-19 Vaccine Experience

March 29, 2021 / by United Language Group posted in Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Business Products & Solutions, Local & State Government

At OMNIA Partners, we have seen how important it is to deliver correct and helpful information during this COVID-19 pandemic. United Language Group offers six ways that healthcare facilities can offer a seamless vaccine experience for those with limited English proficiency. By utilizing United Language Group's nationwide cooperative contract that was competitively solicited and publicly awarded, you'll gain access to cost-effective language and interpreting services that help you effectively communicate with the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed a spotlight on the systemic inequalities and lack of access to health care for patients and members with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Across the care continuum you can find critical touch points where disparities are present but you can also implement ways to make them disappear.

Advantages of Electronic Monitoring for Cities, Counties and States

March 26, 2021 / by BI Incorporated posted in Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Local & State Government

Journal Commentary Separates Electronic Monitoring from Incarceration

The coronavirus global pandemic has impacted the criminal justice world in many unprecedented ways, affecting cities, counties and state community supervision, in-custody facilities, treatment providers, and more. This unique and challenging situation is forcing us all to adapt, and community corrections agencies are facing challenges around how to strengthen their communities and ensure requirements are still met and progress is made.

Addressing Health Risks: The ABCs of Optimizing Air Quality

March 26, 2021 / by Trane posted in Facilities & Infrastructure, K-12 Education

As students, teachers and staff return for in-person learning, your school's HVAC system can help address health risks by optimizing indoor air quality. The same is true for all public sector buildings as they begin to open the doors to the public. While there is heavy focus on the importance of masking and surface cleaning, even more important is addressing your indoor air quality (IAQ) to meet appropriate and ever-evolving guidelines.

How Cooperative Purchasing Offers a Key Advantage for Schools

March 10, 2021 / by School Specialty posted in Procurement, K-12 Education

Developing and posting a Request for Proposals (RFP) and then poring over multiple bids before choosing a service provider and signing a contract can help schools find value in purchasing, but it’s an onerous and time-consuming process. When buyers need essential supplies right away, they don’t have the luxury of waiting.

Digital Solutions For School Safety & The Digital Divide

March 8, 2021 / by Graybar posted in K-12 Education, Information Technology

The Current Pitfalls of School Safety

Efficient and effective school safety policies are critical to ensure that every student is kept safe and informed, should an emergency occur. It is reported that 51% of 911 calls take place on a cell phone inside a building¹, yet 65% of emergency responders communicating inside a building experience regular communication failure². This alarming fact further emphasizes the importance of having a strong network service inside school buildings, allowing emergency responders to arrive at the correct location as quickly as possible.

U.S. County Brings Free Public Wi- Fi to More Than 30,000+ Rural, Low-Income Students and Workers

February 3, 2021 / by Insight Public Sector posted in Information Technology

A county government in a Southern U.S. state was facing extreme pressure to complete a Wi- Fi project by Dec. 31,2020 (the original deadline for CARES Act Funds spending). The county shortened the procurement cycle by avoiding a full RFP, and instead, they leveraged Insight Public Sector's existing OMNIA Partners contract- saving an estimated four weeks of time.

Two Steps for a Reason: The Case for Cleaning Prior to Disinfection

February 2, 2021 / by Rubbermaid Commercial Products posted in Facilities & Infrastructure, Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Cleaning and disinfection have long been routine components of any facility's operations, especially K-12, Higher Education, and Government Buildings.

How to Meet the Transportation Needs of Students in the 20/21 School Year

January 20, 2021 / by ALC Schools posted in K-12 Education, Fleet, Parks & Recreation

Many children are getting left behind amid this unpredictable 2020-2021 school year, and for students with special transportation needs, alternative student transportation is playing a critical role. For McKinney-Vento and special needs students, regular buses either do not visit these students’ neighborhoods on their regular routes or do not have the necessary equipment and tools to get them to school safely. For children who attend school in a different district than they live in, transportation is supposed to be provided through the efforts of both districts. However, when the schools in the separate districts start at the same time, this coordination can become difficult and often impossible.

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