Reso 2024-3733 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Section One, Part A – Overview, Scope, and Project Information 1.Overview This request for proposal (“RFP”) is published by the Cooperative Council of Governments (“CCOG”) for the purpose of awarding a master cooperative purchasing agreement (the “Master Agreement”) and creating a cooperative purchasing program for alternative and renewable energy solutions (the “Program”) that will be available to current and future members of Equalis Group (the “Members”). Companies and organizations which respond to this RFP (“Bidders”) and awarded a Master Agreement are referred to, throughout this RFP and supporting documentation, as a “Winning Supplier” or “Awarded Supplier”. The use of the Master Agreement by any public agency is preceded by registration with Equalis Group and by using the Master Agreement (a “Program Participant”), any such Program Participant agrees that it is registered with Equalis Group, whether pursuant to the terms of a Master Intergovernmental Purchasing Cooperative Agreement, that can be accessed at https://equalisgroup.org/member-registration/, or as otherwise agreed to. Under applicable state statutes, public sector entities nationwide that join Equalis Group can purchase products and services through the resulting Master Agreement without having to conduct their own formal procurement process, thereby saving both themselves and the Winning Supplier significant time and money. 2.CCOG Background CCOG is a Council of Governments and Ohio political subdivision organized under Chapter 167 of the Ohio Revised Code. CCOG is an Equalis Group, LLC (“Equalis Group”) lead public agency and, in that role, conducts formal public sector competitive solicitation processes in compliance with applicable public sector procurement guidelines to select a Winning Supplier(s) to provide products and services to Members. At the conclusion of this RFP process, CCOG will award a Master Agreement to the Winning Supplier(s). 3.Role of Equalis Group Equalis Group works with lead public agencies, such as CCOG, that are legally empowered to conduct formal procurement processes, enter into Master Agreements, and make those Master Agreements available to public sector organizations such as: municipalities, K-12 school districts, counties, higher education institutions, special districts, tribal nations, and state and federal agencies as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations across the country. The Winning Supplier(s) and Equalis Group will also enter into a separate management agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) which defines i) the roles and responsibilities of both parties relating to marketing and selling the Program to current and prospective Members and ii) the financial terms between the parties. The Winning Supplier and Equalis Group will work closely together to develop and implement marketing and sales strategies to drive program adoption with current and future Members across the country. Equalis Group, is committed to actively engage with the Winning Suppliers to grow profitable public sector revenue by: 3.1.Training Supplier Partners’ sales representatives on the pricing, terms, and conditions of the Master Agreement and how to sell their products and services through this already procured contract vehicle. 3.2.Developing sales tools that address common legal, procurement and compliance questions. 3.3.Creating, implementing, and managing marketing and sales campaigns to jointly identify public sector prospects across the country. 3.4.Supporting the sales process by providing subject matter expertise to prospective Members on the legitimacy of the procurement process that established the Master Agreement. Page | 1