Friday, March 13, 2009

More Joint Purchases for Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl have agreed to expand the city and county's joint purchasing agreement. Under the new arrangement, the city and county will continue to jointly purchase commodities such as office supplies, uniforms and computers, and will begin consolidated buys of non-professional services such as plumbing repairs, electrical maintenance and waste disposal.
County spokesman Kevin Evanto says that since April 2007, there have been 69 joint contracts and 29 combined bids totaling $19 million. Evanto says as a result the county has saved $5.2 million and the city nearly $1 million. Evanto says that they are also looking at future joint purchases involving I-T systems and financial systems. Evanto says joint purchases can be a step toward a complete consolidation of city and county government, an idea supported by Onorato and Ravenstahl. The expanded agreement still needs the approval of City Council and County Council.

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