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TIPS USA
The Interlocal Purchasing System
What is it?
A national purchasing cooperative run out of Texas (Region 8 ESC). Over 11,000 public agencies — school districts, cities, counties, non-profits — use TIPS contracts to buy goods and services without going through a separate bid process.
How does it work?
TIPS runs a competitive RFP for a category (like 'Roofing & Waterproofing'). Contractors submit a bid. TIPS awards the contract. Every public agency that's a TIPS member can then use that contract directly — they just issue a PO to you. No new bid, no new solicitation.
How does CRWP get on it?
1. Register at tipsconstruction.com
2. Set up a profile in their eBid system
3. Watch for an open 'Roofing' or 'Construction' RFP
4. Submit your bid — pricing, credentials, insurance, capability statement
5. If awarded, TIPS promotes you to all 11,000+ members
What does it cost?
Free to apply and maintain the contract. TIPS charges a small administrative fee (typically 1–2%) on each purchase — but that fee is paid by the purchasing agency, NOT by CRWP.
What kind of projects come through TIPS?
School district re-roofing. City hall roof repair. County facilities maintenance. Libraries. Fire stations. Community centers. Any public building.
Who uses TIPS in Florida?
Florida school districts and municipalities actively use TIPS. It's not FL-exclusive — it's a national contract — so if CRWP ever does work in another state, the contract follows.
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Gordian ezIQC®
Cooperative Job Order Contracting
What is it?
Gordian is the company that invented Job Order Contracting (JOC). Their ezIQC product is a cooperative purchasing version — meaning the contract is already competitively bid at the state or regional level, and any public agency in that area can use it.
How does JOC work?
Instead of bidding each project separately, the agency has a pre-priced 'Construction Task Catalog' (CTC) — a book of unit costs for thousands of construction tasks (remove 1 SQ of membrane, install 1 LF of flashing, etc.).
The contractor submits a single 'Adjustment Factor' (like 1.08 = 8% markup on all catalog prices). That one number wins you the contract for ALL projects under the vehicle for the contract term.
What does that mean for CRWP?
Once awarded, an agency calls and says 'we need the flat roof on Building 3 replaced.' CRWP scopes it using the task catalog, submits a worksheet, agency approves it — work starts. No competitive bid per project. This is exactly how Advanced Roofing's Equalis Group contract works.
How does CRWP get on it?
1. Call Gordian FL: 1-800-874-2291
2. Ask about open ezIQC solicitations for roofing/waterproofing in FL Regions 3–6
3. Attend Gordian's JOC contractor informational session
4. When IFB opens, submit your Adjustment Factor and qualification package
5. If awarded, you're in the system for the contract term (typically 2–5 years)
What does it cost?
Free to apply. Gordian charges a small administrative fee on each task order — paid by the agency, not the contractor.
What projects come through JOC?
School board re-roofing programs. County building repairs. University campus work. Public housing authority projects. It's especially powerful for large institutions with many buildings — they run the whole portfolio through one JOC contract.
How big is Gordian?
$4 billion+ in construction volume per year. 30,000+ projects completed annually. They've been running JOC programs since the 1980s. This isn't experimental — it's how major public institutions handle their entire maintenance and renovation budgets.