TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve and Authorize the Mayor to Execute HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing With the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for Participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program.
• Pros: Authorizes the City to participate in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program and utilize competitively procured Cooperative Contracts when determined to be in the City's best interest and consistent with applicable procurement requirements. Establishing the agreement may reduce procurement timelines and administrative efforts for qualifying purchases. Execution of the Interlocal Contract does not obligate the City to make a purchase or commit City funds.
• Cons: Participation in the cooperative purchasing program requires the City to operate within the applicable HGACBuy contractual framework when utilizing an HGAC cooperative contract.
Option 2: Deny execution of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing.
• Pros: The City would continue utilizing its existing procurement methods and other available Cooperative Purchasing Agreements without participation in the HGACBuy program.
• Cons: The City would not be authorized to utilize HGACBuy Cooperative Contracts, potentially limiting available cooperative procurement options and requiring separate competitive solicitations or use of other procurement methods for purchases that could otherwise be made through HGACBuy.
Background Information
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) administers HGACBuy, a Cooperative Purchasing Program through which participating governmental entities may access contracts that have been publicly solicited and competitively awarded.
To access and utilize HGACBuy Cooperative Contracts, the City of North Port must enter into the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract (ILC) with H-GAC. The ILC establishes the legal framework for the City's participation in the Cooperative Purchasing Program and authorizes the City to utilize eligible HGACBuy Contracts when appropriate.
Execution of the ILC does not obligate the City to make a purchase, commit City funds, or utilize any particular HGACBuy contract. Individual purchases remain subject to applicable City procurement requirements, available funding, and any required City Commission approval.
The North Port Fire Rescue Department has identified an immediate opportunity to utilize the HGACBuy program for the procurement of an ambulance through HGAC Cooperative Contract Number AM10-23 with Frazer, Ltd. The proposed utilization of Contract Number AM10-23 and the associated Purchase Agreement with Frazer, Ltd. are being presented to the City Commission as a separate agenda item. Approval of that transaction is dependent upon the City's authorization to participate in HGACBuy through execution of this ILC.
Establishing participation in HGACBuy will also provide the City with an additional cooperative procurement option for future purchases when an HGACBuy Contract meets the City's needs and its use is consistent with applicable procurement requirements.
The HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form.
The HGACBuy Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing with the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) for participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program was provided to the City Clerk's Office on August 13, 2026, for signature, subject to City Commission approval.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Execution of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract does not, by itself, obligate the City to expend funds. Any financial impact associated with future purchases utilizing HGACBuy Contracts will be identified and approved as part of the applicable procurement and budget process. Expenditures under this contract shall be limited to funds that have been or will be duly appropriated through the City’s budget process and are specifically allocated for the scope of services outlined in the Agreement.
Expenditures under this Contract shall be limited to funds that have been or will be duly appropriated through the City’s budget process and are specifically allocated for the scope of services outlined in the Agreement.
Any purchase made on or after October 1, 2026, against this Contract is contingent on future appropriated funds.
Procurement
Execution of the HGACBuy Interlocal Contract establishes the City's participation in the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program and provides the framework through which the City may utilize qualifying Cooperative Contracts in accordance with the City's procurement requirements.
Any subsequent purchase utilizing an HGACBuy Contract will be processed through the appropriate City procurement process and will remain subject to applicable purchasing authority, funding availability, and City Commission approval when required.
Attachments:
1. HGACBuy Interlocal Contract
Prepared by: Deanna Marshall, Senior Business Manager
Department Director: Scott Titus, Fire Chief