Trust.
It’s not just a word; it’s an essential ingredient for any successful partnership. During unprecedented times, trust can foster confidence, streamline operations, and cut through the uncertainty that inhibits progress. For schools, trust helps fuel an engaged and productive learning environment, from the boardroom to the classroom.
Trust also helps school leaders make wise purchasing decisions. With mounting budget pressures and fluctuating import tariffs on their doorstep, many K-12 purchasers are currently fishing about for partners they can trust to help them navigate this newly-complex purchasing landscape.
For Illinois schools, there’s no need to go at it alone. Our statewide educational purchasing cooperative, ILTPP, provides direct access to numerous Vendor Partners – all of whom are pre-screened for their reliability and dedication to competitive pricing.
A vetted vendor is a partner you can count on while making any purchase – and that’s a difference that counts toward your district’s bottom line.
Lennon and McCartney sang about getting by with “a little help from my friends”, and the same rings true for purchasing from a vetted vendor. These trusted partners provide reliable offerings and supports that mitigate uncertainty and turn a cumbersome purchase into a streamlined success.
Here’s what you can count on while working with any of ILTPP’s pre-vetted Vendor Partners:
Every dollar makes a difference for schools, so we work with Vendor Partners to secure discounts on everything from devices and furniture to classroom supplies and cybersecurity services.
Many also offer reduced shipping costs and bulk pricing, all without the need to haggle or comparison shop on the public market.
During ILTPP’s vetting process, we contact at least three educational facilities that have purchased a vendor’s products within the past year. Their testimonials help ensure we only partner with vendors who do right by K-12 clients.
To pass vetting, vendors must demonstrate their experience over the previous five years. Our Vendor Partners are in it for the long haul, so you can count on them to be there whether you need to make a purchase now or later.
You shouldn’t need to second-guess if you’re following the rules. During vetting, we check to ensure every Vendor Partner adheres to Illinois’ laws regarding K-12 procurement. That way, you can move ahead with purchasing plans without getting bogged down by extra paperwork.
Even with a vetted vendor’s reliability in your corner, purchasing for a school or district can still feel overwhelming. Fortunately, cooperative purchasing reduces that burden through every step in the process (including finding and contracting with trustworthy vendors).
At their core, purchasing cooperatives like ILTPP unlock savings and simplify purchasing for schools by aggravating buying power from their members. By joining forces, schools gain access to volume discounts and favorable terms that would be unattainable individually. This becomes increasingly important when dealing with the increased cost of goods.
Even before you start shopping, your purchasing cooperative has already saved you time and effort by handling key intermediary work, including:
This centralized approach simplifies procurement, reduces administrative overhead, and ensures that schools receive the best possible value, no matter which vendor they work with.
When uncertainty becomes the dish of the day, schools need purchasing partners they can trust. Purchasing cooperatives like ILTPP provide that stable relationship, ensuring your school has access to pre-vetted vendors who offer competitive prices and reliably support their K-12 clients.
With an array of vetted vendors within reach, you won’t just save money and effort (though you’ll do plenty of both). You’ll also earn back time to focus on what matters most: empowering students and shaping an enriching learning environment.
Ready to feel the power of vetted vendors? Explore our current contracts to learn more about our Vendor Partners, including their exclusive discounts and supports geared toward empowering educational institutions like yours.
ILTPP membership also comes with perks you can count on. Become an ILTPP member for free to unlock exclusive discounts on your school’s entire shopping list, plus free quotes and access to streamlined shopping on the new ILTPP Marketplace.
Let’s put your purchasing power to work.
Visit iltpp.org or contact iltpp@ltcillinois.org for answers and support throughout the procurement process.
Amanda leads ILTPP's member engagement by driving membership growth and support through strategic programs and statewide outreach, ensuring schools across Illinois realize substantial financial benefits.
Sam leads and supports the execution and growth of LTC services through the development and creation of innovative, impactful, and timely digital content.
With hands-on experiences and industry-aligned curriculum, CTE doesn’t just prepare students for the workforce—it gives them a leg up on technical literacy, problem-solving abilities, and confidence.
How much will prices increase? How can your district keep tech costs down? Consider previous tariffs and how cooperative purchasing can help absorb the shock of price spikes.
