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Frequently Asked Questions <br />Q. WHAT IS THE SOLICITATION AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PROCESS? <br />A. NJPA conducts a thorough 10-step process, described in full on pages 9 and 10 of this document, that includes: <br />1) Researching Member Needs. <br />2) Researching the Market for Solutions. <br />3) Drafting and Advertising an RFP. <br />4) Receiving Bidders' Responses. <br />5) Evaluating Bidders' Responses. <br />6) Making Recommendations to the NJPA Board. <br />7) Awarding Vendor(s). <br />8) Posting Approved Contract Documents. <br />9) Developing and Implementing a Joint Marketing Plan with Awarded Vendors. <br />10) Reviewing and Maintaining our Contract throughout Its Term. <br />Q. WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP FOR AN INTERESTED AGENCY TO PARTICIPATE? <br />A. Qualifying agencies must register for Membership and may join in a matter of minutes. Visit www.njpacoop.org and <br />apply online; download and complete a hard copy, or call 888-894-1930 to receive your application by moil. <br />Q. HOW DOES THE PURCHASE PROCESS FLOW? <br />A. After Membership has been established, the Member selects the contract of choice from our purchasing catalog and contacts <br />the Vendor dlredly for spedfic product, service, ordering and delivery information. Billing is executed by the servicing Vendor <br />or manufacturer. NJPA monitors contract compliance by the Vendor to ensure a high level of service, quality of goods and <br />general customer satisfaction as expressed by the Member. Prior to executing the purchase order, It would be the Member s <br />responsibility to review and accept the general terms and conditions of the spedfic RFP of interest and at that point, execute <br />the purchase order directly with the awarded Vendor. Your Membership allows the NJPA Board of Directors and NJPA staff to <br />facilitate the bid and procurement responsibilities on your behalf. <br />Q. WHAT ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND ASSURANCE? <br />A. NJPA requires "manufacturer product and service responsibility'. This eliminates the transferring of blame In the event the <br />customer is not satisfied. Responding manu{acturers accept this responsibility and, in extreme cases, NJPA would be involved <br />in specific communications to ensure the customer Is satisfied with the complete process of procurement and contract compliance. <br />NJPA contracts are four-year terms, reviewed annually for compliance. This level of assurance and review will give Members <br />the leverage necessary to insure the highest level of products and service. <br />Q. HOW DO I BECOME AN AUTHORIZED SUPPLIER OF NJPA? <br />A. NJPA encourages all national Vendors to respond to the NJPA RFP solicitations. Our bids are solicited, advertised and <br />posted on www.njpacoop.org (our website), www.noticetobidders.com and in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. <br />Q. HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NJPA? <br />A. Visit our web site at www.njpacoop.org or contact any of our Vendors listed in our purchasing catalog. <br />You also may contact us directly at 888-894-1930 oc <br />Mike Hajek, Director of Contracts & Marketing <br />mike.hajek@njpacoop.org 218-894-5477 <br />Duff Erholtz, Manager of Membership Services <br />duff.erholtz@njpacoop.org 218-894-5490 <br />National Joint Powers Alliance® <br />