Cooperative Purchasing Insights from the Association of Chief Business Officials (ACBO) Spring Conference 2026
The ACBO Spring Conference 2026, held April 22–24 in Sonoma County, brought together community college business leaders from across California for several days of knowledge-sharing and practical insights on fiscal stewardship, compliance, and operational strategy. One of the sessions, “Beyond Bidding: When Competitive Procurement Isn’t Required,” featured Mark Hua, Director of Purchasing, Contracts, and Risk Management at Foothill-De Anza Community College District, and Christopher Fallon, Partner at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
The session provided a comprehensive overview of when competitive bidding is required and when it is not. Presenters walked attendees through the core framework under Public Contract Code § 20651, including current bid thresholds and standard procurement processes, before turning to the wide range of statutory exceptions available to districts. These exceptions include contracts below bid limits, certain public works thresholds under California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, professional and special services, emergency repairs, sole source procurements, and purchases such as textbooks, perishable goods, and energy service contracts. The presenters emphasized that while these exceptions create flexibility, they also require strong documentation and clear justification to ensure compliance and audit readiness.
Of note was how different procurement pathways operate, particularly the distinction between traditional “piggybacking” versus leveraging a CollegeBuys agreement. Under Public Contract Code § 20652, districts may “piggyback” on another public agency’s competitively bid contract, but this authority is generally limited to the purchase of goods (with services only allowed when incidental to those goods). In contrast, the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ CollegeBuys program operates under a separate legal authority, Public Contract Code § 20661 and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, §§ 59130–59132, which allows it to establish competitively solicited contracts on behalf of one or more districts for both goods and services.
This distinction is critical for districts seeking compliant and efficient procurement solutions. While piggybacking remains a useful tool, CollegeBuys offers a broader, purpose-built cooperative purchasing model that expands access to code-compliant contracts across a wider range of categories. As highlighted in the session, understanding these nuances enables districts to better leverage available exceptions, streamline procurement processes, and remain fully aligned with state requirements.
As we look ahead, we want to express our sincere appreciation for the ongoing efforts of our procurement professionals and partners. Your engagement, openness in sharing insights, and contributions to community best practices continue to elevate the field as a whole.
If you have questions on how to best leverage CollegeBuys agreements, please contact collegebuys@foundationccc.org.
