Welcome to TIPS!

"Click your state for specific information on contracts and vendors."

TIPS Hotline 866-839-8477
TIPS FAX 866-839-8472

General Information About TIPS 

The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS) is sponsored by the Region VIII Education Service Center (ESC8) located at 2230 North Edwards, Mt. Pleasant, Texas and is governed by the Region 8 ESC Board of Directors.  The Interlocal Purchasing System is available for use by all public and private schools, colleges, universities, cities, counties, and other government entities in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

TIPS Awarded Vendors have submitted proposals from a posted RFP and are competitively awarded contracts accordingly. These Awarded Vendors have agreed to provide the best pricing, terms and conditions available to TIPS Members.

The TIPS Program takes PRIDE in providing a purchasing coop where Awarded Vendors and Members both benefit.  With a successful award, a vendor can expedite an order for a member because all purchasing requirements are completed during the RFP process. A school district or other TIPS Member can benefit from the cost savings of time and expense in competitively bidding each purchase.

The Purpose of TIPS

• Provide school districts and other governmental entities opportunities for greater efficiency and economy in acquiring goods and services.
• Take advantage of state-of-the-art purchasing procedures to insure the most competitive contracts.
• Provide competitive price solicitation and bulk purchasing for multiple government entities that yields economic benefits unobtainable by individual entities.
• Provide quick and efficient delivery of goods and services by contracting with "high performance" vendors.
• Equalize purchasing power for smaller entities that are not able to command the best contracts for themselves.
• Maintain credibility and confidence in business procedures by maintaining open competition for purchases and by complying with purchasing laws and ethical business practices.
• Assist entities in maintaining the essential controls for budget and accounting purposes.

THERE IS NO MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR TIPS MEMBERS

Awarded Vendors agree to pay a participation fee direct from sales of TIPS Members.  Any sales made to participating entities without the participation fee may disqualify the vendor as awarded by TIPS. Purchases made by TIPS Members must be identified as a TIPS Purchase on the Purchase Order.

For further information about the TIPS program and commodities available, please contact 866.839.8477. Fax number: 866.839.8472 or Email: tips@reg8.net