A new, far-reaching solicitation for K-12 and higher education curricula is expected to be released next month by the National Joint Powers Alliance, a Staples, Minn.-based governmental service cooperative with about 10,000 school districts among its membership of nearly 50,000 public agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
This is the second time the cooperative has issued a request for proposals to the education-publishing industry under the “curriculum” heading. A similar attempt two years ago failed to generate responses from bidders who met the criteria, according to Gordy Thompson, a contract manager for the alliance.
Curriculum is a major departure for the alliance, which grants and manages 175 contracts for products ranging from carpeting and furniture to office supplies and auto parts. The Maryland district bought $3.2 million worth of copiers through the alliance, for example.