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MiCTA and the ATAlliance continue to work on behalf of its membership to identify quality products and services delivered at the best value. “Best value” is minimally defined as a combination of: service before and after the sale, quality of product or service, ability to consistently deliver product or service, geographical coverage areas, technical support, Most Favored Customer status, as well as nationwide pricing. When demand for a particular product or service is communicated by the membership, MiCTA will issue a national Request For Proposal (RFP). The RFP process results in the two highest award classifications being issued: Endorsed and Approved. For opportunities which are not covered in an RFP but are judged to be in the best interest of the membership, MiCTA will show due diligence by completing the vendor discovery process which may evolve into an agreement with the vendor until such time as an RFP can be issued and administered. Because MiCTA and MiCTA Service Corporation adhere to sound competitive purchasing policies and procedures in evaluating offerings and the vendor must provide MiCTA members most favored customer status through MiCTA Service Corporation contracts, most MiCTA members have been able to sole source purchases without having to do their own extensive and expensive competitive bid process.
The following vendor classifications assist members in identifying both the process taken and overall value of a particular product or service.
Endorsed - Endorsed vendor status is the highest recognition awarded by MiCTA. Vendors awarded this status have 1) met all requirements set by MiCTA, and 2) prevailed in MiCTA’s comprehensive RFP process for particular products and/or services for the stated geographical area. An endorsed vendor’s products and/or services have been judged by MiCTA to be the best value based on price, quality, service, etc. as identified during the RFP process. MiCTA will assist endorsed vendors in promoting the products and/or services, marketing the programs for the term of the endorsement – usually a minimum of three (3) years, and assisting in the sales efforts when and where appropriate. In addition, MiCTA will provide a preferential location on the MiCTA web site to promote their products and/or services.
The advantages of being selected as the endorsed vendor cannot be overemphasized. Most MiCTA members choose the endorsed vendor, resulting in greater volume discount pricing, and potentially fewer RFP’s and/or contracts to administer.
Approved - Approved vendor status is the second highest recognition awarded by MiCTA. Vendors receiving this status have 1) met the “essential” requirements set by MiCTA, and 2) successfully participated in MiCTA’s comprehensive RFP process. Approved vendor products and/or services have been judged by MiCTA to be a very good value based on price quality, service etc. MiCTA will assist approved vendors in their sales efforts against non-endorsed vendors when and where appropriate for the term of the approval – usually a minimum of three (3) years. In addition, MiCTA will provide a good location on the MiCTA web site to promote their products and/or services.
Vendor Alliance - Vendor Alliance status is a recognition awarded by MiCTA as a result of the vendor successfully completing the extensive “discovery process” with officials from MiCTA Service Corporation. The discovery process includes, but is not limited to, meetings with corporate executives discussing ethics, corporate history, current corporate partnerships, presentation of corporate products and services, corporate vision, demonstration of commitment of sales and technical staff for support of MiCTA members, as well as tours of corporate R & D/manufacturing facilities and technical support facilities, rather than by the RFP process used in determining Endorsed and Approved status. MiCTA pricing, terms and service arrangements will be set by negotiation. By awarding Vendor Alliance status, MiCTA judges the vendor’s products and/or services to represent a good value based on price, quality, service, etc. Term of this agreement is from one to three years. Vendor Alliance Awardees will be designated a location on the MiCTA web site to promote their products and/or services.
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