Frequently Asked Questions

What is Horizon Resource Group?

What is a GPO?

What is the difference between Horizon and a college/university purchasing cooperative or consortium?

What is National IPA and can I utilize their agreements?

Are there membership fees, volume purchase requirements or tiered pricing based on volume requirements with Horizon Resource Group?

How can I take advantage of the savings opportunities and become a member of Horizon?

What basic philosophy is used by Horizon to determine which contracts to solicit for specific products and services?

What is the typical term for supplier contracts?

What products and services does Horizon make available to member institutions?

If I am already purchasing from of one of Horizon ’s contracted suppliers, may I still benefit?

Do I purchase through Horizon and the Horizon website?

Will I still work with a local representative from the supplier, or through a national contact?

Can a member purchase from part of the Horizon portfolio without committing to purchase from the entire Horizon portfolio?

What is Horizon Resource Group?
Horizon Resource Group is a group purchasing organization (GPO) serving the higher education community. Horizon leverages the buying power of institutions across the country, and competitively solicits contracts on behalf of member institutions in order to achieve the lowest prices offered for higher education. Member institutions have access to use any supplier contract in the portfolio of contracted products and services. For additional information, see What We Do.

Horizon’s Mission: To serve as the premier group purchasing organization for higher education in the United States by making a more efficient market for suppliers, which translates into lower operating costs for colleges and universities.

What is a GPO?
A Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) consolidates the purchasing power of a large group of separate entities to leverage the volume in order to negotiate contractual discounts from qualified, national suppliers of goods and services. All participating entities, regardless of size and location, benefit from group purchasing.

What is the difference between Horizon and a college/university purchasing cooperative or consortium?
Typically, a purchasing cooperative or consortium requires individuals to manage solicitations and contracts on a rotating basis on behalf of the entire group. Often times, it is difficult to get the group to agree on requirements, specifications, gather data. In contrast, GPOs such as Horizon manage and perform the tasks associated with competitive solicitation on behalf of the group.

What is National IPA and can I utilize their agreements?
National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (National IPA) was established through a collaborative effort of public agencies across the United States with the specific purpose of reducing procurement costs by leveraging group volume.

National IPA aggregates purchasing volume of participating public agencies across the country in order to receive larger volume discounts from suppliers.  This is an optional use program with no minimum volume requirements.
All master agreements are publicly solicited, awarded through an RFP process, and held by a Principal Procurement Agency, while National IPA serves as a nationwide channel to offer the awarded agreements to public and non-profit agencies.

Are there membership fees, volume purchase requirements or tiered pricing based on volume requirements with Horizon Resource Group?
There are no membership fees for institutions to participate in Horizon's GPO. There are also no purchase minimums, requirements to purchase in quantity or to consolidate purchases with other participating members. Horizon Resource Group’s contracts grant the same price to all members regardless of size and purchase volume. Large institutions, as well as small institutions, and public institutions, as well as private institutions, will all benefit from a partnership with Horizon.

How can I take advantage of the savings opportunities and become a member of Horizon?
Contact Horizon Customer Relations at 866-531-3053 or at customer.relations@horizonrg.com. A dedicated Horizon Account Director will be assigned to your institution. He/she will work with you and with your institution to formulate strategic implementation plans for those contracts in the Horizon portfolio that will bring immediate savings to your institution. Savings can begin immediately!

What basic philosophy is used by Horizon to determine which contracts to solicit for specific products and services?
The needs of Horizon member institutions are the primary consideration used to determine contracting opportunities. For this reason, we ask that all member institutions provide feedback on required contract areas via the dedicated Customer Relations toll-free line at 866-531-3053 or via email at customer.relations@horizonrg.com.

Horizon has a financial support team responsible for analyzing responses to all solicitations and the overall strategic contracting approach to ensure concentration in areas and with suppliers that provide the most value to our membership.

What is the typical term for supplier contracts?
In an effort to create long-term collaborative relationships with suppliers, the typical contract length is 3-5 years.

What products and services does Horizon make available to member institutions?
Horizon's expanding portfolio of supply agreements includes administrative and professional services; information technology; consumable supplies and services, including physical plant; furniture and soft furnishings; floor covering; office equipment and services; and janitorial/sanitary supplies and equipment.

Member institutions are invited to become active partners with Horizon to determine additional products and services of highest priority.

If I am already purchasing from of one of Horizon’s contracted suppliers, may I still benefit?
Yes. In most cases, nothing will change in your supplier relationship, other than the benefits you will recognize due to Horizon's lower pricing.

Do I purchase through Horizon and the Horizon website?
No. You maintain relationships with the suppliers and purchase directly from the suppliers/supplier channels.

Will I still work with a local representative from the supplier, or through a national contact?
You will maintain a relationship with a local representative from the contracted supplier. While Horizon has national account support from the suppliers, and your Horizon Account Director may assist you in working with a supplier, Horizon encourages the local supplier relationship.

Can a member purchase from part of the Horizon portfolio without committing to purchase from the entire Horizon portfolio?
Yes. Participating entities are encouraged to use any and all contracts that bring value, but use of any contract can be viewed as an individual decision.

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