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Why use Choice Facility Partners over another cooperative?
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It is the only cooperative that specializes in facility services, with more than 170 awarded contracts.
Plus, any revenue that exceeds the expense for providing the contract services supports education.
While based in Texas, governmental entities throughout the nation may use many of the Choice Facility Partners contracts, similar to other national purchasing cooperatives.
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What is Choice Facility Partners (CFP)?
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Choice Facility Partners is a purchasing cooperative with legally procured facility contracts. Using these contracts streamline facility services, saving time and money for governmental organizations and nonprofits. A division of Harris County Department of Education, organizations that want to use these competitively bid and legally awarded contracts, sign an interlocal, government-to-government contract.
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Who is eligible to use CFP?
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Schools, education-related organizations, colleges, universities, municipalities, counties and other governmental entities and non-profits.
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What are the benefits of using CFP?
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Choice Facility Partners provides best value contracts for facilities services which:
- Save staff time in purchasing - Contracts are already legally and competitively procured
- Save staff time in construction services
- Save money in facility budgets
- Improve efficiency
- Extend facility services staff through use of these contracts.
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What does it cost to use CFP?
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There is no charge to client members to use CFP contracts; partners pay a small percentage fee back to Choice Facility Partners.
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How can governmental entities legally make purchases through Choice Facility Partners?
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In Texas, legal, competitively-procured contracts may be used under Title 7 of the Governmental Code Chapter 791 and under Title 8 of the Local Government Code Chapters 262 and 271 . Education Code - Section 44.031 specifies that school districts are allowed to use an interlocal contract for purchasing. Governing boards of entities that have approved and signed an interlocal contract with Choice Facility Partners/HCDE can use the awarded contracts.
As of Sept. 1, 2011, government code 2267 took effect for governmental entities (except higher education), which governs procurement of construction services.
Outside Texas, governmental entities are responsible to ensure they are meeting the law and following the applicable state purchasing policies. Generally, the competitive procurement process used by Choice Facility Partners meets the requirements of most states. Check the statutes for all states here.
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How can a governmental organization or nonprofit access these services?
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Become a member.
Organizations and governing boards of governmental entities sign an interlocal contract, assigning to Choice Facility Partners the responsibility for legally and competitively procuring the services CFP makes available through the facility services cooperative.
Outside Texas: Follow the appropriate state statutes, signing the interlocal contract if necessary.
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Once the interlocal has been signed by both governing boards, how can an entity do business using a partner with an awarded contract?
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Once the organization/entity has signed the contract, it may purchase services from the vendor partner using the cooperative purchasing contract.
The member contacts the CFP vendor partner they wish to use, then issues a purchase order to that vendor. The contract number of the cooperative purchasing contract is included on the purchase order, which makes it a legal purchase.
A copy of the purchase order is sent to CFP.
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How can companies receive a contract award and become a CFP vendor partner?
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Companies must respond to a Request For Proposal issued by Choice Facility Partners. Companies may sign up as a bidder, then they will be notified if an RFP is posted for their service area.
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What is a Job Order Contract (JOC)?
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Job Order Contracts are relational, performance-based contracts where the facility services partner continually interacts and collaborates to provide construction services. Different from Design/Bid/Build, JOC is effectively and efficiently used to manage renovation, remodeling, rehabilitation, repair and other construction projects.
Actively used for years in the military, JOC has been a legal, well-recognized delivery method for public schools since 1995.
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What is Harris County Department of Education?
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Harris County Department of Education is a governmental entity. Created in 1889, HCDE provides educational services for school districts and learners of all ages. It is located in Harris County but is not affiliated with the governmental entity of Harris County, Texas.
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What is CFP's procurement process?
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CFP issues the solicitation, usually an Request For Proposal.
The solicitation is advertised per state statute.
Interested companiessubmit a sealed response by the due date.
Responses are reviewed, evaluated and tabulated.
The evaluation committee makes a recommendation; references are checked.
The HCDE governing board awards the contract at a scheduled board meeting.
Successful proposers become CFP vendor partners.
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Where can I find more information about Choice Facility Partners?
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Download the fact sheet here. For the full brochure, click here .
Thank you for your interest in Choice Facility Partners!
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