Mohave is a nonprofit corporation known predominately for its cooperative purchasing contracts that benefit member agencies throughout Arizona. Public school districts, cities, counties, community colleges, and qualifying nonprofit organizations use Mohave contracts through cooperative purchase agreements. As a statewide public procurement unit, administrative fees paid by users fund Mohave. No direct tax dollars come to Mohave.

When vendors receive Mohave contracts, they become partners in providing quality goods and services to our members at competitive prices. A Mohave contract saves members both time and money. Time is saved because members can purchase what is needed without waiting for a bidding process. Members save money by combining the purchases of many agencies for economies of scale and lower prices.

Mohave is not a sales or marketing firm. If awarded a contract, you must work with our members to be successful.

Want to know more about Mohave's Vision?

» Mohave Corporate Profile

Mohave's purchasing policies and procedures come from the Arizona State Board of Education School District Procurement Rules, the Arizona Procurement Code and applicable sections of the Arizona Revised Statues. They are designed to obtain maximum value and benefit for our members, promote active participation from qualified vendors, and provide fair, open and nondiscriminatory competition. Conflict of interest is not tolerated.

Mohave meets the same requirements placed upon our members. That's why our members can use us with confidence. Our Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals are carefully written to comply with the rules, regulations and statutes of the state, and the ethical standards that apply to public purchasing.

Because we meet the requirements, our members are considered to have met the requirements. In other words, Mohave contracts are not a way to avoid the bidding requirements. They are a legal means to satisfy them, just as if the members had conducted the competitive procurements themselves.

Mohave contracts for a variety of goods, services and construction. Computers, portable buildings, playground equipment, roofing, cabling, school buses, financial management, third party financing, software systems, copiers, and job order contracting are just a few examples.

Members play a large role in determining Mohave's contracted materials, equipment and services, and we routinely receive new contract requests. Requests are reviewed to determine if there is sufficient interest for viable statewide contracts, and if Mohave can effectively manage a contract after award. When requests for apparently viable and manageable contracts are received, competitive procurement solicitations are issued to interested vendors.

Mohave has in excess of 150 current contracts awarded, to view a list of those contracts, click on the link below.

» Mohave Contract Finder

Mohave maintains a list of possible bidders. The list includes all firms that have asked to compete for our contracts. The vendors on that list receive notice of Invitations for Bid or Requests for Proposals for commodities or services provided by their firms.

Placing your firm on the possible bidders list does not establish a contract with Mohave, or indicate our determination that your firm is qualified to enter into a contract for a specific commodity or service. It simply helps provide your firm with the opportunity to compete for our contracts. To register your firm to receive IFBs/RFPs when they are issued, please follow the steps outlined below.

Registering to receive bid/proposal information from Mohave is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3

		Go to our website...www.mesc.org
		Under the "Purchasing Services" header, select "Vendor Information"
		Under the "Vendor Information" column heading on the "Purchasing Services" page, click on "Potential Bidder Sign-Up" Follow the detailed instructions and you will be registered to receive Mohave IFB/RFP announcements when they are issued for your company's product and/or service category.

Questions regarding the potential bidders list should be directed our contracts team you can reach them by phone at 928-753-6945 or by email at contracts@mesc.org.

Mohave contracts in accordance with the rules, regulations and statutes listed above. In general, this means that competitive sealed bids or proposals are used, dependent upon the type of material or service being purchased. Mohave does not contract on behalf of its members by the sole source or emergency purchase procedures.

Mohave issues Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals as required throughout the year. Notification is sent to every vendor registered for the applicable commodity or service category. Mohave also places legal ads in newspapers when advertisement is advantageous or required.

Invitations for Bid and Requests for Proposals generally contain all the information needed to make a bid or offer. Bids and proposals may be submitted in response to a solicitation by any vendor, whether or not registered on the potential bidders list. Sealed bids and proposals are opened in public at Mohave's Kingman, Arizona office. The public openings are held on the same day that bids or proposals are due. Late bids or proposals are rejected without opening, and vendors so notified.

Invitations for Bid are awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders. Responsive means that a bid or proposal complies with all material aspects of the solicitation. For example, specifications, delivery times, quantities, warranties, and material terms of the solicitation must be met. Failure to do so may result in a bid or proposal being rejected. Responsible means that the vendor demonstrates the intent and ability to perform an awarded contract.

The low responsive and responsible vendor is often, but not always the lowest cost bid. Because of the responsive and responsible requirement, price is not the sole factor in awarding a bid.

Proposals are awarded to the vendors whose offers are determined to be most advantageous to Mohave and its members. Most advantageous means in the members' best interests, not necessarily the lowest cost.

Bids are evaluated and awarded as received. There is no negotiation. Revisions generally are not allowed. Proposals are subject to discussion and negotiation, and may be revised with best and final offers. Vendors should note that the decision to conduct discussions on proposals and to request best and final offers rests solely with Mohave, and is not automatic.

Mohave reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, proposal or part thereof. Mohave may also waive minor informalities in bids or proposals.

Once bids and proposals are awarded, the successful contractors receive formal notification from Mohave. Receipt of official award notification authorizes contractors to begin marketing their products and services. Contractors may only offer and sell awarded materials and services under Mohave contracts. All sales must be in accordance with the terms, conditions and prices in the awarded contract.

Mohave contracts provide members with an option for making purchases. Use of our contracts is not required, and the decision rests solely with the members.

To use a Mohave contract, a member obtains a firm quote from the contractor. The quote must be for awarded materials and services, and must comply with awarded pricing.

The member issues a purchase order in the vendor's name based upon the quote. This purchase order is forwarded to Mohave for a review to determine if the purchase is allowable under Mohave contract. Based upon that review, Mohave stamps the purchase order with a "MESC Reviewed" stamp and forwards it to the vendor and the member via electronic mail.

The contractor may provide materials or services only upon receipt of the "MESC Reviewed" purchase order. Members may not use Mohave contracts by sending purchase orders directly to the contractor.

Mohave assists members with purchase verification. However, it is the member's responsibility to independently verify that quotations and purchase orders comply with the terms of the award of a contract or procurement. This responsibility is set by rule and statute, and cannot be changed by Mohave. Electronic contract documentation files are available on our website to assist members in meeting this due diligence responsibility.

Mohave vendors directly invoice the Mohave member ordering the goods and/or services. This requires a valid member "MESC Reviewed" purchase order, the materials and services must have been delivered in accordance with the contract, and the contractor must have invoiced the member. Members are required to pay within 30 days of receipt of invoice providing goods and/or services have been received. However, members can often pay for partial shipments to encourage prompt delivery. Vendor invoices must reference the correct Mohave purchase order number.