ESB 5958, concerning cooperative purchasing or “piggybacking,” was heard in the House Local Government Committee last week. SB 5958 seeks to clarify existing law allowing all public agencies to utilize cooperative purchasing procurement contracts (i.e. to “piggyback” on the contracts of other public agencies).

Under the current law, public agencies are subject to different public contract award standards. Because of these different standards, some types of public agencies, including second class cities, public utility districts, and counties are currently limited in the types of cooperative purchasing agreements from which they could make purchases.

The bill clarifies existing law and provides that all Washington public agencies may make purchases from any publicly noticed and competitively awarded cooperative purchasing contracts.

Piggybacking helps smaller cities and towns purchase goods by tying the purchase to a larger jurisdiction’s contract resulting in a lower unit price for both jurisdictions.

AWC supports this bill clarifying the rights of cities to use piggybacking authorized in RCW 39.34.