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Engineering director urges use of Sourcewell cooperative contracts to save money and staff time
Summary
Engineering & Facilities Director Cody presented Sourcewell cooperative procurement options, citing examples (truck purchase, weed eaters) that could yield 5–15% savings and reduce staff procurement time; Assembly expressed broad support and asked for local-preference safeguards and budget process clarifications.
Engineering & Facilities Director Cody briefed the Assembly on Sourcewell, a cooperative public procurement service, explaining how Sourcewell and NASPO ValuePoint contracts provide pre-solicited contract options that can reduce cost and staff time.
Cody said the borough already has a Sourcewell member account and presented examples: a recent truck purchase ($49,074) would have realized a 13.93% saving ($6,836) under a comparable Sourcewell contract, and small equipment such as weed eaters showed per-item savings (about $221 per unit in one example). He emphasized that Sourcewell provides full bid documentation and vendor information and that the borough would still compare local quotes and apply a local-preference adjustment.
Assembly members generally supported pursuing Sourcewell as a way to speed procurement for both large and routine purchases, while preserving local preference where feasible. Mr. Johnson asked whether budgeted purchases found under a Sourcewell contract would require another Assembly approval; staff confirmed that budget approvals still control whether the borough moves forward with expenditures.
Members asked staff to pursue implementation while ensuring the Assembly retains oversight on budgeted items and that the borough apply local-preference checks when appropriate.
