The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is a ground-breaking federal investment that will provide funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. State and local governments will play an instrumental role in ensuring these funds are implemented efficiently, effectively, and equitably. The planning and implementation of this program will require many layers of decision-making by states, including how to purchase charging equipment and related services.   

As states purchase charging equipment, aggregated purchasing can simplify and speed up the deployment of charging infrastructure. Also known as cooperative purchasing, entities like Sourcewell streamline procurement by creating one competitive bid process for a group of governments.  This removes the time it takes for a state agency to create a request for proposal (RFP) and saves money by leveraging the buying power of multiple agencies. It also allows access to a wider variety of purchasing options while streamlining procurement.   

Sourcewell, a service co-operative created by the Minnesota legislature as a self-sustaining government organization, provides equal access to competitively bid contracts for public entities to purchase charging stations and associated services through ten different vendors. Sourcewell allows states to quickly ramp up their charging infrastructure programs and meet all state procurement guidelines. The EC is excited to provide technical assistance in tandem with Sourcewell’s procurement solutions.