HCDE combines cooperatives to become Choice Partners Cooperative

Three contracted companies working with the Harris County Department of Education have merged into one cooperative.

Choice Facility Partners, the HCDE Purchasing Cooperative and the Gulf Coast Food Co-op will merge to become Choice Partners Cooperative. The new cooperative will be housed at HCDE's Houston Office at 6005 Westview Drive, under the direction of Executive Director Les Hooper.

Combining the services will optimize HCDE processes and make it easier for client members to find the contracts they need. Choice Partners will provide shared services solutions to governmental entities, including school districts, private and charter schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, counties and nonprofits.

"Cooperative purchasing contracts are win-win-win," said Hooper in a press release. "Our members benefit from the time and leveraged cost savings in procurement; our vendors benefit by having an awarded contract that has been competitively procured; and the cooperative wins by receiving a small percentage for their work in bidding, awarding and managing the contract."

"I really believe this is going to improve our ability to serve our clients," said John Sawyer, HCDE county school superintendent, in the release.

During the transition members can save money by accessing contracts for facilities at  hoicefacilitypartners.org, for food at www.gulfcoastfoodco-op.org and for supplies at www.hcdepurchasingcooperative.org.

For more information on the merger, visit choicepartners.org.