For Michigan School Districts
How to Use REMC SAVE
Cooperative procurement and school code compliance, explained. Everything your district needs to know before your next purchase.
See It In Action on Our SiteDo Michigan school districts need to conduct their own local bid when purchasing through REMC SAVE?
Not to meet state procurement requirements, no.
While school districts must always follow their local school district board policy, REMC SAVE conducts formal, competitively bid, sealed solicitations that satisfy state school purchasing requirements under the Michigan Revised School Code and federal Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG) by including all public school districts & public school academies in the bidding documents. Districts may fulfill their state competitive bidding obligations by utilizing procurement through REMC SAVE.
01 · Compliance Framework
State Law & Compliance Framework
MCL 380.1274 (Competitive Bidding)
Mandates competitive bidding for purchases exceeding the state threshold ($31,321 for FY 2025–2026). The statute requires a competitive bidding process, but does not mandate how the process is conducted. REMC SAVE conducts sealed, competitive bids satisfying this requirement and includes other State requirements, including familial relationship notarized disclosures, and Iran Economic Sanctions Act certifications.
MCL 380.11a & 380.671 (Cooperative Authority)
Grants general powers school districts the right to participate in cooperative arrangements without requiring separate interlocal fees, including those operated by Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and Regional Educational Media Centers (REMCs). Establishes REMC as an officially recognized, statewide educational media procurement authority operating under public educational governance.
Products & Services Scope
REMC SAVE covers instructional technology, computers, software, furniture, educational and office supplies. It does not cover real property building construction, which is governed separately under MCL 380.1267 provisions.
Federal UGG Standards
REMC SAVE bids include required federal disclosures, contract provisions, and conflict-of-interest declarations under 2 CFR 200, enabling the use of federal grant and relief funds.
VSC is an awarded REMC SAVE vendor. Instructional technology, computers, furniture, and educational supplies are all in stock and shoppable directly on shopvsc.com. Create a free account and register as a REMC SAVE entity to see your discounted pricing live, no separate catalog lookup required.
02 · Common Misconceptions
Clearing Up Common Procurement Misconceptions
| Misconception | The Facts |
|---|---|
| We must run our own local bid process for purchases over the state competitive bid threshold ($31,321 in 2025-2026). | Purchasing through an awarded REMC SAVE contract satisfies state bidding threshold requirements, so long as the process is in compliance with your local board policy. |
| Getting three vendor quotes equals a competitive bid. | Quotes may meet state bid statutory standards. However, REMC SAVE provides compliant, competitive sealed bids. |
| Catalog percentage discounts are not bid. | REMC SAVE catalog percentage discounts are competitively bid and discount percentages are locked for the full contract term. |
| Bond dollars cannot be spent through REMC SAVE. | Capital bond proceeds, sinking funds and grants allocated for permissible furniture, classroom & instructional technology, interactive displays, and equipment can be purchased directly using REMC SAVE contracts, saving significant administrative time and consultant fees. |
| REMC SAVE covers general facility construction. | REMC SAVE contracts cover equipment, furniture, and technology, not building construction (MCL 380.1267). |
Those locked-in catalog discounts? They’re already built into our pricing. Register as a REMC SAVE entity on shopvsc.com and your discounted rate applies automatically at checkout, with no manual lookup against the REMC catalog needed.
03 · Compliance Checklist
Best Practices for District Compliance & Audit Readiness
Review Local Policy
Confirm that local school board purchasing policy permits cooperative or intergovernmental purchasing (you may need to check with your district legal representation) and that REMC’s process meets your local board policy requirements.
Build a Due Diligence Folder
For every major purchase, retain the REMC SAVE contract item number, official price verification, and bid documentation (available publicly on the REMC SAVE website). This will also help you with your record retention requirements.
Every order placed through shopvsc.com includes the REMC SAVE contract item number and price verification automatically, ready to drop into your folder.
Coordinate Project Teams
Ensure bond consultants, technology directors, and construction managers align schedules with REMC SAVE vendor catalogs to maximize volume discounts and eliminate redundant bidding steps.
04 · Who Benefits
Value for District & Project Teams
Business Officials & Tech Directors
Save administrative time and provide compliant pricing with zero membership fees.
Register on shopvsc.com to see it live, no separate portal to check.
Bond Consultants, Architects & Project Teams
Streamline technology and furniture acquisitions for bond projects without separate bidding overhead. For bond-funded programs, architects, bond consultants, and construction managers must separate fixed building construction work from loose Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) and instructional technology. While building construction follows MCL 380.1267, all loose FF&E, classroom technology, devices, and instructional supplies fall under MCL 380.1274 and can be streamlined through REMC SAVE.
VSC can quote your loose FF&E and technology scope directly at REMC SAVE pricing. Talk to our team.
Administrators
Leveraging REMC SAVE empowers the REMC Association (a Michigan-based 501c3 non-profit) to provide free professional learning and educator resources to all Michigan schools.
05 · On Our Site
How to See REMC SAVE Pricing on ShopVSC
Register as a REMC SAVE Entity
When creating a free account at shopvsc.com, check the box for “My school or district is a REMC SAVE eligible agency.” Your account is tagged instantly, no waiting on approval.
Already Have an Account? Enroll AnytimeOptional
If you registered before flagging your district, log in and visit your account page. Click “Unlock REMC SAVE Pricing,” enter your school district and job title, and your account is tagged right away.
Confirm Your Pricing Is Active
Once enrolled, your account page shows a “REMC SAVE Pricing is Active” confirmation with your REMC number on file.
Shop, and See REMC SAVE Pricing Automatically
From here on, every product page shows your REMC SAVE price automatically, right alongside the standard price, no codes or portals required.
Browse Collections With Pricing Built InOptional
The same REMC SAVE badge shows up while you browse, so every product card across a collection reflects your discounted price before you even click in.
Ready to Purchase Through REMC SAVE?
Our team at VSC can walk your district through REMC SAVE procurement from the first quote to final install.
Talk to Our Team Or create a free account for instant REMC SAVE pricingThe content on this page is sourced directly from REMC SAVE’s official compliance documentation, reproduced here for Michigan school districts (view the source document). For direct bid documentation requests, REMC SAVE can be reached at remcsave.org or 517-299-5711.