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Frequently Asked Questions <br />Q. WHO IS NJPA? <br />A. The National Joint Powers Alliance, referred to as NJPA, is a Municipal Contracting agency operating under the <br />legislative authority of Minnesota Statute 1 23A.21 . This statute was created in 1978 and revised in 1 995 to allow <br />participating municipal agencies to reduce the cost of procurement by leveraging the benefits of contract purchasing. <br />NJPA serves all education, government and non-profits agencies nationally. <br />Q. WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS OF NJPA? <br />A. NJPA employees are public employees. All employees are required to pay into Public Employment Retirement Association <br />(PERA) through payroll deduction. One level of comfort for Members is that NJPA employees have the same employment <br />status as NJPA municipal Members. <br />Q. HOW IS NJPA GOVERNED? <br />A. NJPA is governed by the NJPA Board of Directors. The eight-member board is comprised of governing officials; mduding <br />school board, city council or county commissioners. <br />Q. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN NJPA? <br />A. There is no cost, obligation or liability to join or participate in NJPA contracts. <br />Q. HOW IS NJPA FUNDED? <br />A. NJPA is funded by a Vendor contract administrative fee. The fee is paid by the Vendor and not passed on to the NJPA <br />Member. The fee covers the costs of contract marketing and facilitation, and it offsets operating expenses incu«ed by NJPA. <br />NJPA does not receive state or federal aid, nor do we have taxing or levying authority. Therefore, we are a governmental <br />agency, entirely entrepreneurial and fundloning much like a self supporting business. NJPA also shares these fees with other <br />partner cooperatives or associations as they demonstrate the desire and ability to help facilitate and market available <br />NJPA contracts. <br />Q. HOW CAN WE JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN NJPA AND ITS CONTRACTS AND SERVICES? <br />A. The NJPA Bylaws, Arflcle II, Subd. C describes our Membership and participation. Full voting Memberships are limited to the <br />school districts, cities, counties and other governmental units defined in M.S. 471 .59 and as established annually by the <br />NJPA Board of Directors. Non-voting Memberships, what we toll "Participating Memberships," are available to all other <br />partnership agencies or organizations that go online to www.njpacoop.org, click on the JOIN button and submit the required <br />information. All Members are required to sign a Participating Membership agreement. These organizations are eligible to <br />nominate their governing board members to serve on the NJPA Board. They also become responsible for any liabilities NJPA <br />may incur. Participating Memberships are at no cost and carry no organizational liability. <br />Q. DOES NJPA HAVE A PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC PURCHASING BOARD OF ADVISORS? <br />A. Yes. At this point all cu«ent Participating Members are a part of our Board of Advisors. NJPA also has two Member Advisory <br />Committees: one that specializes in the fleet industry and the primary advisory that represents procurement professionals from <br />all of our Member verticals. <br />Q. CAN AGENCIES OTHER THAN GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION USE THE PROGRAM? <br />A. Yes, under M.S. 123A.21, all non-profit agencies may participate. <br />Q. WHAT SPECIFIC STATUTE GIVES MY AGENCY THE AUTHORITY TO PARTICIPATE? <br />A. Minnesota Statute 471 .59 Joint Exercise of Powers law and our enabling legislation, as described on page 4. <br />National Joint Powers Alliance® <br />~ - <br />