By Jeannie Fanning
September 20, 2010

Mayors and cities can save through the U.S. Communities program, a cooperative purchasing alliance of the United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, National Institute of Government Purchasers and others. The latest contract to be added to the wide array of products and services is for roofing solutions, ranging from preventive maintenance to restoration and replacements. Garland/DBS, Inc. is the current provider to agency members of the U.S.ÊCommunities Government Purchasing Alliance through a contract solicited by the lead public agency Cobb County (GA). Most municipalities are familiar with the traditional benefits of cooperative purchasing, such as reduced administrative time and guaranteed best pricing. Members of U.S. Communities are finding that such advantages are amplified when it comes to roofing, due to the nature of the roof project delivery process.

Public agencies with solid contractor relationships are frequently frustrated by bid requirements that put cost considerations before performance outcomes. Because the U.S.ÊCommunities roofing contract provides guaranteed installed pricing, agencies are free to request the services of a preferred contractor using a transparent cost structure that has been competitively bid nationwide.

Recognizing that market conditions, mobilization considerations, or general economic circumstances may at times enable a local contractor to implement a roofing project at an even lower cost, municipalities may request site'specific installation pricing from select local contractors that have been pre-qualified by Garland/DBS, Inc.

Preventing Small Problems from Becoming Big Ones

Although a shortened delivery cycle is attractive for any type of purchase, it can be critical when the product delivered is roofing. The time associated with the traditional bid process can wind up costing a public facility a lot more money by turning small problems into big ones. Specifically, expedited delivery offered through the U.S. Communities roofing contract is helping agencies restore leaking roofs that otherwise might have required tear-off and reroofing due to saturated insulation.

Another compelling advantage for municipalities is the accountability inherent in a contract that offers turnkey project delivery. The U.S. Communities contract enables municipalities to purchase integrated solutions with single'source accountability from an organization that has over 115 years of experience manufacturing and servicing high-performance commercial roofing projects.

As an employee-owned organization, Garland has built its reputation on delivering performance-based outcomes. Municipalities may purchase materials only or a fully designed, engineered, and installed roofing project through Garland/DBS, Inc., using a locally based Garland representative to manage their projects and Garland approved local contractors to install them.

Garland/DBS, Inc. offers a complete line of high-performance roofing materials for repair, restoration, reroofing, and new construction, including vegetative, ENERGY STAR¨ qualified, photovoltaic, low-fume, recyclable, Title 24 compliant, and other sustainable solutions that provide LEED¨ building qualification points. There is no cost to become a member of U.S. Communities. For more information contact Jeannie Fanning at jfanning@usmayors.org or Jeff Bean at jbean@usmayors.org or visit our cooperative purchasing website www.uscommunities.org. You may also contact Karl Sooy with Garland/DBS, Inc directly at 800-321-9336, ext. 3645.