FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PSAI’S NEW ALLIANCE
WITH NATIONAL PURCHASING PARTNERS (NPP)
Q. How did this alliance come about?
A: The PSAI is always looking for ways to add more value for Members, and a purchasing program is one of
the benefits many associations offer. So Executive Director Karleen Kos did some research and, eventually,
brought the idea to the PSAI Board of Directors. They approved the alliance with National Purchasing
Partners, a group purchasing organization.
Q. What is a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)?
A. A GPO is a cost savings vehicle available to participating Members. The purpose of a GPO is to leverage
purchasing strength through membership in order to acquire goods and services at lower prices. GPOs are
not resellers, but rather contract negotiators. GPO members are entitled to purchase through these
negotiated contracts.
Q. Why did the PSAI choose NPP?
A. NPP’s relationships offer PSAI Members the opportunity to purchase things
they already need from many vendors they already use – but at a discount they
probably don’t already get. If you have a favorite vendor not on NPP’s list, NPP
will reach out to that company and try to form an agreement with them as well.
What’s especially nice is that employees of PSAI Member companies can also access NPP’s program to
make personal purchases. This is basically something you can tout to employees as a new benefit for them.
Q. I don’t understand how National Purchasing Partners works; could you briefly explain it?
A. National Purchasing Partners negotiates contracts directly with vendors. Once you are registered with
National Purchasing Partners, you can purchase directly through the vendor while utilizing the savings
National Purchasing Partners has negotiated. It is simple and fast. National Purchasing Partners is there to
answer any questions you have, negotiate contracts with vendors PSAI Members would like to see added to
the list, and act as a general advocate for purchasing.
Q. How does my PSAI Member Company participate?
A. Registering to become an NPP member is easy:
1. Visit NPP’s website: www.mynpp.com
2. Click “Join Now”
3. Select “Transportation” from the “Market Segment” dropdown menu
4. Select “Portable Sanitation Association International” from the “Association” dropdown menu.
5. Complete the registration form and click “submit”
6. Within the next 24 hours you will receive an e-mail confirmation of your membership, which also will
include your username and password
You can then sign in and access our vendor discounts.
NPP Program FAQs
Page 2 of 2
February 2016
Q. Who is eligible?
A. Each PSAI Member Company is individually qualified for NPP membership. Besides the PSAI, NPP works
with associations in industries include Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Finance, Accounting and Insurance,
Hospitality, Legal, Commercial Real Estate and Property Management, Transportation, Government,
Nonprofit, Fire Rescue and Public Safety.
Q. What are the membership costs and obligations?
A. There are no costs or user fees, and no obligation to purchase on the part of any PSAI Member
Company or the PSAI as an association.
Q. What are the minimum purchasing requirements for National Purchasing Partners?
A. There are no minimum purchasing requirements.
Q. How is National Purchasing Partners supported?
A. National Purchasing Partners negotiates an administrative fee with vendors to cover operating expenses
that in turn allow NPP to provide its service free of charge to associations like the PSAI.
Q. What kinds of products and services are available to my company and how do I access the discount?
A. A complete list of current NPP-associated vendors and discounts is available on www.mynpp.com. After
registering and logging onto the website, click on the vendors tab. NPP’s vendor portfolio includes
products and services such as industrial parts, facility maintenance supplies, office suppliers, wireless
service, safety equipment, and more.
Q. Do I buy directly through National Purchasing Partners?
A. No, National Purchasing Partners does not warehouse or sell any products or services directly to PSAI
Members. NPP simply facilitates access to special contract pricing. Your company will purchase directly
from NPP’s contract vendors and/or manufacturers.
Q. Can PSAI Members outside the US use the NPP program?
A. At this time, the NPP program only serves US Members. The PSAI did research other programs, and
found there is no GPO that is global and suitable for the PSAI.
Q. What is meant by the term “alliance” between NPP and the PSAI?
A. PSAI and NPP have agreed to work together to offer this new benefit to PSAI Members. A signed
document that spells out the nature of the agreement is on file, and either party can decide to end the
agreement if it no longer makes sense to continue it.
Q. If I have additional questions, or an idea for a company I’d like NPP to approach for addition to
NPP’s group of vendors, what should I do?
A. Contact the PSAI office via phone (+1-952-854-8300) or email ([email protected]). We’ll answer your
question and, if others would benefit from the information, we’ll add it to this list of FAQs.