By Katie Logisz
February 20, 2006

The U.S. Communities cooperative purchasing alliance has awarded The Home Depot and its wholesale distribution subsidiary, The Home Depot Supply, a contract for maintenance, repair and operations, equipment and supplies. This new contract was made available to cities and other public agencies across the United States effective December 1, 2005. Under this contract, The Home Depot gives public agencies a broad range of MRO equipment and supplies without the need for additional solicitation through both the wholesale and retail sides of The Home Depot. The contract includes highly favorable pricing on entire categories of products available through The Home Depot Supply’s commercial catalog. As an additional feature, public agencies can arrange to have orders accepted at the Pro Desks located in every Home Depot retail store.

The United States Conference of Mayors is a national sponsor of the U.S. Communities program, which utilizes the combined purchasing power of cities and other public agencies nationwide to achieve the highest value and savings from a selected group of national vendors. A lead public agency bids the original contract, and other agencies are able to piggyback on that initial contract. The Home Depot contract was initially awarded by Maricopa County (AZ). U.S. Communities offers non-exclusive contracts to public agencies. Cities may sign up online at www.uscommunities.org to begin utilizing the wide variety of contracts currently available. Goods and services currently offered under U.S. Communities contracts include office and school supplies, office and school furniture, homeland security solutions, janitorial supplies, park and playground equipment, carpet and flooring, technology products, electrical and telecommunications products, office machines, and P.E. supplies.

For more information on how your city can realize the savings available through U.S. Communities contracts, contact Katie Logisz with the Conference at 202-841-0775 or send e-mail to klogisz@usmayors.org. You may also contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland with the Conference at 301-460-5251 or send e-mail to kweyland@usmayors.org. Information is available online by visiting usmayors.org or www.uscommunities.org.