About Us
The Multi-State Corrections Procurement Alliance (MCPA) was formed in June 2005 by State Departments of Correction Procurement Officers. The primary purpose is to establish the means by which Departments of Correction across the nation may join together in cooperative Multi-State contracting in order to achieve cost effective and efficient acquisition of quality products and services.
All Departments of Correction across the nation may access the approved agreements by processing an MCPA Participation Agreement.
MCPA has been approved by the National Association of State Purchasing Officials (NASPO).
Important NASPO/MCPA Cooperative Facts
- NASPO/MCPA Cooperative Contracts use a "lead state" model to carefully ensure open, competitive cooperative contracts. The lead state owns and manages the contract.
- NASPO/MCPA Cooperative Contracts have been awarded by a competitive solicitation process, usually an RFP, to all contracted vendors in compliance with the lead state’s statutory requirements.
Definitions
- "LEAD STATE" means the State conducting a cooperative solicitation and centrally administering any price agreement and award.
- "PARTICIPATING STATE" means a member of NASPO or MCPA that has indicated its intent to participate by signing an Intent to Contract, or who subsequently signs a Participating Addendum where required.
- "PARTICIPATING ADDENDUM" means a bilateral agreement executed by the contractor and a Participating State (or a political subdivision with the consent of its State Procurement Official) that clarifies the operation of the price agreement for the State concerned (e.g. ordering procedures specific to that State) and may add other state-specific language or other requirements.
- "PURCHASING ENTITY" means a Participating State or other legal entity (such as a political subdivision properly authorized by a Participating State) that enters into a contract for the purchase of goods described in the cooperative solicitation.
- "OFFER" or "BID" or "PROPOSAL" generally refers to the offer submitted in response to a solicitation, whether denominated as an invitation to bid, invitation for bid, request for proposal, or otherwise. "BIDDER" or "OFFEROR" similarly refers to the person, company, or other entity submitting the bid or proposal that constitutes an offer capable of acceptance, regardless of the solicitation method used.
- "PERMISSIVE PRICE AGREEMENT" means that Purchasing Entities’ placement of orders through the price agreement is discretionary. Purchasing Entities may satisfy their requirements through the price agreement without using statutory or regulatory procedures (e.g. invitations for bids) to solicit competitive bids or proposals. Purchasing Entities may, however, satisfy requirements without using the price agreement so long as applicable procurement states and rules are followed.
- "INTENT TO PARTICIPATE" means the form executed by a State Procurement Official that describes the cooperative procurement and signifies the State’s willingness to enter into the cooperative procurement.