New Agreement Gives Local Governments Access to 500+ Cooperative Purchasing Contracts

June 25, 2026 (Arlington, TEXAS) – The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Alliance for Innovation (AFI) have signed an agreement that gives member agencies nationwide access to more than 500 competitively awarded contracts through a single cooperative purchasing framework. Powered by Civic Marketplace, the partnership expands purchasing options while eliminating the need for multiple interlocal agreements and additional administrative processes.

The agreement gives cities, counties, school districts and special districts a shorter path from identifying a need to issuing a purchase order. What once required navigating separate cooperative programs and compliance processes can now be accomplished more efficiently through a single framework.

Members of TXShare – NCTCOG’s cooperative purchasing program – and AFI can immediately access contracts covering technology, infrastructure, public safety, water and utilities, and professional services. All contracts have been competitively solicited and awarded in accordance with applicable procurement laws, preserving the transparency and compliance standards relied upon by purchasing officials and governing bodies.

“For too long, local governments have had to choose between cooperative programs, navigating separate agreements, separate compliance processes, and separate relationships,” said Todd Little, Executive Director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. “For the first time, an AFI member in Phoenix can access a TXShare contract administered in North Texas, and vice versa, on a single platform, with a single login, with full legal confidence.”

The reciprocal arrangement operates under the Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act and applicable state procurement statutes, ensuring contracts remain fully compliant and supported by a clear audit trail.

EXPANDED ACCESS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

The agreement also extends to COGWORKS, the cooperative purchasing program of the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), which serves rural communities, school districts, and special districts nationwide. Through ETCOG's existing TXShare membership, every COGWORKS participating agency gains immediate access to the full AFI contract portfolio at no additional cost and with no new paperwork. 

Consider what this means in practice: a purchasing officer at a small rural county has known about a proven solution used by dozens of similar agencies, but couldn't justify the paperwork to access it through an unfamiliar cooperative. Under this agreement, that officer can search the combined catalog on Civic Marketplace today, verify compliance documentation, and connect directly with the awarded supplier without filling out a single additional form.

“The East Texas Council of Governments has long believed that procurement should serve communities, not just compliance checklists,” said David Cleveland, the Executive Director of ETCOG. “This agreement opens doors for agencies across our region to access contracts they could not practically reach before. We encourage every eligible agency to browse the full catalog and see what is now available to them.”

THE PLATFORM BEHIND THE AGREEMENT

The agreement is enabled through Civic Marketplace, which allows agencies to search the combined contract catalog, review compliance documentation and connect directly with awarded vendors. 

“What sets this apart is not just the legal framework — it’s the platform,” said Michael Wilkes, the President and CEO of Alliance for Innovation. “Civic Marketplace doesn’t just host the contracts. It surfaces them intelligently, connects agencies to suppliers who are ready to serve, and generates real market activity. 

The full catalog is available at civicmarketplace.com.

“Cooperative purchasing has long been fragmented by geography, paperwork, and disconnected systems,” said Al Hleileh, Co-Founder and CEO of Civic Marketplace. “By bringing AFI and TXShare together on a shared marketplace, we’re creating an ecosystem where agencies have greater choice, suppliers have greater reach, and communities get faster access to proven solutions.”

BY THE NUMBERS

• 500+ competitively awarded contracts now accessible through a single ILA
• Three cooperative networks unified: NCTCOG/TXShare, AFI, and COGWORKS
• 50 states eligible — TXShare membership is open to any local government or nonprofit nationwide, at no cost
• One business day typical turnaround to execute a TXShare ILA
• $0 in fees, subscriptions, or platform charges for member agencies

About the North Central Texas Council of Governments / TXShare

The North Central Texas Council of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to help communities work together on issues that transcend local boundaries and strengthen the long-term vitality of North Central Texas. Serving a 16-county region centered around Dallas-Fort Worth, NCTCOG provides regional planning, coordination, and technical expertise in areas including transportation, emergency preparedness, environmental sustainability, public safety, workforce development, and human services.

Its TXShare cooperative purchasing program is open to local governments and nonprofits across all 50 states at no cost. Agencies can usually execute an ILA in one business day and begin using contracts immediately. Learn more at txshare.org/membership.

About Alliance for Innovation (AFI)  

AFI is a nonprofit association of governments dedicated to fostering innovation and excellence in local government. AFI assists local governments in implementing innovative solutions to enhance efficiency, service delivery, and community impact. The organization emphasizes strategic thinking, emerging technologies, and best practices to equip public agencies with the knowledge and support to address evolving challenges. Learn more at transformgov.org.

About East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) / COGWORKS

ETCOG serves as a bridge between federal, state, and local governments across 14 East Texas counties, providing programs and services for seniors, employers, job seekers, and local agencies. COGWORKS is its cooperative purchasing program, focused on expanding access for rural communities and special districts. Learn more at etcog.org.

Civic Marketplace 

Civic Marketplace is an AI procurement platform built for local governments and free for every SLED entity to use. The platform connects government buyers to a network of pre-approved suppliers, with compliance documentation built in. Civic Marketplace is especially committed to expanding access for historically underutilized businesses. Learn more at civicmarketplace.com.