HME, Incorporated - Marketing
Dave Fornell	Counties Covered: Bradford
501 East Franklin Street
Troy, OH 45373
Phone: 937-440-8156
Email: captdave@hmeahrensfox.com
Website: www.hmeahrensfox.com
Keowen Apparatus Sales & Service
Randy Keowen	Counties Covered: Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming, Bucks,
52 Vender Lane
Mays Landing, NJ 08330-5705
Phone: (609) 625-3155
Fax: (609) 625-3155
Email: rkeowen@verizon.net
P & G Emergency Equipment
Kevin Griffin	Counties Covered: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Allegheny
13382 State RT 8
Titusville, PA 16354
Phone: (814) 827-2011
Fax: 814-827-2118
Email: kevinsfire@verizon.net
Website: www.pgemergency.com
Paradise Fire Equipment
Rob Ranck	Counties Covered: Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Potter, Somerset, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Adams
185 Blackhorse Road
Paradise, PA 17562
Phone: 717-278-1490
Fax: 717-687-8747
Email: rranck@hydrosoft.net

Member-Specific Benefits of COSTARS Participation

• Flexibility – Members have the option to purchase from COSTARS-exclusive contracts, from a large selection of statewide agency contracts for which suppliers have consented to participate, or from any other cooperative procurement contracts. Participation in any COSTARS purchasing is completely voluntary; each member is free to obtain supplies and services through its regular procurement procedures.
• Cooperative Purchasing Requirements – Because the Commonwealth awards contracts through its own competitive bidding process, COSTARS procurements meet the cooperative purchasing requirements under the Commonwealth Procurement Code for local government purchasing. However, other statutory provisions, including without limitation, the requirement for prevailing wage determination, may apply.
• Dollar Savings – Volume purchasing results in lower prices; using contracts established by DGS eliminates the need for specifications development, advertising, printing, mailing and bid evaluation.
• Best Value – Members determine the “best value” for their purchase; each member decides what will best suit their needs. Factors considered may include administrative cost and time-savings, compatibility with existing equipment, delivery time, or keeping spend in their local community.
• Convenience – Using contracts established by DGS facilitates the purchase of supplies and services by simply issuing a purchase order to a contractor.
• Education – Free training, workshops and a quarterly newsletter are provided by COSTARS staff to assist members on how to use contracts, how to purchase from specific contracts of interest, as well as other topics of interest and trends in government purchasing.

Member Eligibility – Entities eligible for COSTARS membership include any LPPU defined as:

• Any political subdivision (local government unit), such as a municipality, school district, or commission;
• Any public authority (including authorities formed under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1955 or other authorizing legislation, such as the Public Transportation Law or the Aviation Code);
• Any tax-exempt, nonprofit educational institution or organization;
• Any tax-exempt, nonprofit public health institution or organization;
• Any nonprofit fire, rescue, or ambulance company; and
• Any other entity that spends public funds for the procurement of supplies, services, and construction (such as a council of governments, an area government, or an organization that receives public grant funds).

A state-affiliated entity is a Commonwealth authority or other Commonwealth entity that is not a Commonwealth agency.
The term includes:

• The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission;
• The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency;
• The Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System;
• The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority;
• The State Public School Building Authority;
• The Pennsylvania Higher Education Facilities Authority; and
• The State System of Higher Education

The term does not include any court or other officer or agency of the unified judicial system, the General Assembly and its officers and agencies, any State-related institution, or any Commonwealth executive or independent agencies, boards, or commissions not listed above. Statewide "row" offices, including the Auditor General, Attorney General, and State Treasurer are not State-affiliated entities under the code. However, elements of the court system, the General Assembly, and independent agencies, boards, or commissions have been deemed eligible for COSTARS membership as entities that spend public funds for the procurement of supplies, services, and construction.

Member Registration –
DGS requires LPPUs and state affiliated entities to register as COSTARS members, and only those entities registered with DGS may purchase from contracts. Should the supplier become aware of, or be contacted by, any potential purchaser not currently registered as a COSTARS member, where the potential purchaser believes it may qualify for, and wishes to participate in, the COSTARS Program, the supplier may refer the potential purchaser to the DGS COSTARS web-pages to complete the DGS COSTARS member online application.

Member Participation –
COSTARS members have the option to purchase from COSTARS-exclusive contracts, from a large selection of statewide agency contracts for which suppliers have consented to participate, or from any other cooperative procurement contracts. Member participation in any COSTARS purchasing is completely voluntary, meaning that each COSTARS member is also free to obtain products and services through its regular procurement procedures

COSTARS is a new approach to the Cooperative Purchasing Program. COSTARS encourages the formulation of an interactive partnership between Local Public Procurement Units and the Commonwealth. There are approximately 6,700 Local Public Procurement Units taking advantage of existing Commonwealth contracts. Our goal is to provide better contracts with competitive pricing, while increasing participation of eligible participants. Visit Costars Website