December 3 - 4, 2025
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Virtual Learning

Registration closes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM

DESCRIPTION

This course gives an overview of the cooperative purchasing process in the public sector, describing the types, benefits, structure, legal considerations and challenges cooperative purchasing groups face. Attendees will be shown and discuss examples of constitutions, strategic plans, business plan reports, commodity listings and standard terms and conditions for public tenders issued by cooperative groups.

Instructor:  Scott Agnello, CPPO, CPPB

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course participants will be able to:
• Define cooperative purchasing
• Describe a variety of methods and group purchasing models associated with cooperative purchasing
• Outline the benefits and challenges associated with cooperative purchasing, along with ways to measure savings
• Explain several rules, statutes and treaties related to cooperative purchasing
• Describe the characteristics and traits of a successful cooperative
• Outline the business components of a cooperative group

DATE AND TIME

This six (6) hour Zoom Virtual Learning seminar has two (2) online sessions:

Wednesday, December 3rd at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

AND

Thursday, December 4th at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Students must attend both sessions to receive course credit.

The Zoom meeting link and login information will be distributed before the session.

PRE-WORK

Students will receive a short pre-work assignment to complete two weeks before the session. If you have not received course materials/pre-work, etc. prior to the course you are registered for, you are responsible for emailing members@opba.ca to obtain them before your course start date.

REFUNDS & PAYMENTS

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.

FORMAT

Learn more about the Zoom platform and its system requirements here. Remember to use a wired internet connection (as opposed to wi-fi, if possible) for the best viewing experience.

OPBA Principles Program seminars are designed for student participation. In order to get the most out of the session and ensure two-way discussion, students are encouraged to fully participate by having camera and microphone on during the virtual session, or to actively participate in chat where access to a A/V equipment is not possible.

Students are also encouraged to maintain a respectful learning environment by minimizing multi-tasking distractions, and background noise. Please ensure mobile phones and computer notifications are off or muted, and place yourself on mute until you want to, or are called upon, to speak.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Attendance Credit: Six (6) contact hours. Students must attend both sessions to receive course credit.

Program Textbook: ** Learners must purchase the updated textbooks for each construction course, which is now available for purchase in the OPBA Store. 

Program Enrollment: If you plan to apply this seminar toward the Principles of Effective Public Procurement certificate program, you must be enrolled in the program. 

REGISTRATION

Space is limited: Register early to avoid disappointment. There will be a $25 late fee applied to join this course after the registration deadline. Please email members@opba.ca to request a late registration. 

Cancelations: In writing only, up to ten (10) business days before the event, after which we regret that we cannot refund your registration fee.

Registration Fees:

Please refer to our refund + payment policy for information regarding cancelations and/or refunds.

Registration closes Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM