What is COSTARS?

COSTARS is a new approach to the Cooperative Purchasing Program. COSTARS encourages the formulation of an interactive partnership between Local Public Procurement Units and the Commonwealth.

COSTARS-3 IT Hardware Contract provides participants with the best pricing and offers additional features, including purchasing directly from vendors, like GLED, online.

Who can participate?

Whereas Section 1902 of Act 57 of May 15, 1998, as amended by Act 142 of December 3, 2002, 62 Pa.C.S. Section 1902, authorizes local public procurement units to participate in those contracts for supplies and services entered into by the Department of General Services that are made available to local public procurement units. A "local public procurement unit" is defined as:

• any political subdivision
• any public authority
• any tax exempt, nonprofit education or public health institution or organization
• any nonprofit fire company, nonprofit rescue company, nonprofit ambulance company
• and to the extent provided by law, any other entity, including a council of government or an area government, that expends public funds for the procurement of supplies and services.

How do you register?

DGS requires Local Public Procurement Units and State Affiliated Entities to register as COSTARS Members, and only those entities registered with DGS may purchase from the Contract. Several thousand potential Purchasers are already registered with DGS as COSTARS Members.

Registration - Eligible local public procurement units must register on-line with the Department of General Services. Once you register you will receive an approval letter with your member number.

For more information, please visit COSTARS home page at:
http://www.dgs.state.pa.us/COSTARS/site/default.asp?costarsNav