Minnesota's Cooperative Purchasing Venture (CPV), established by Minn. Stat. § 16C.03, subd.10, allows eligible entities to purchase goods, certain services and utilities from contracts established by the Office of State Procurement (OSP) for Minnesota state agencies. OSP contracts with vendors to provide goods, services and utilities to state agencies. This program creates a legal relationship so that eligible entities can use these contracts just like state agencies. There are six categories of eligibility for participation in this program.
The annual CPV membership period runs from July 1 through June 30.
The links below provide the statutory citation, as well as information about applying for participation in the CPV.
Minnesota Statutes § 471.59, subd. 1, known as the Joint Powers Act, defines the governmental entities that may participate in the CPV. They include counties, cities, towns, townships, and school districts, as well as certain other entities.
Minnesota Statutes § 16B.2975 defines entities that are eligible to receive federal surplus property. These entities are also eligible to participate in the CPV.
Minnesota Statutes §43A.50, defines registered combined charitable organizations that are eligible to participate in the CPV.
Minnesota Statutes § 309.50, Subd. 4 defines the charitable organizations that are eligible to participate in the CPV.
Minnesota Statutes § 145.9268, Subd. 1 defines the eligible community clinics that are eligible to participate in the CPV.
Minnesota Statutes § 16C.105, adds that any entity recognized by another state's statutes as authorized to use that state's commodity or service contracts is eligible to participate in the CPV.
Once you've determined under which category your organization is eligible, print the CPV Membership Application Form, complete it, then send it with any other documentation required to:
A membership permit number/security access code will be sent to you following receipt of your application.
Each party agrees that it is responsible for its acts and the results thereof, to the extent authorized by law, and shall not be responsible for the acts of the other party and the results thereof. In particular, the political subdivision is responsible for any purchase order it issues. A political subdivision's liability is governed by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 466 (Tort Liability, Political Subdivisions); the state's liability is governed by Minnesota Statutes § 3.736 (Tort Claims).
