WHO is CarolinaBUY?

CarolinaBUY, operated by the Carolinas Alliance 4 Innovation (CA4I), is a registered 501(c)(6) nonprofit in North and South Carolina that delivers publicly bid, fully compliant cooperative purchasing contracts to public agencies and eligible nonprofits. Through its public solicitation process, CarolinaBUY provides competitively awarded contracts for a wide range of products and services on an as‑needed basis, helping agencies save time, reduce administrative burden, and access high‑quality solutions at competitive prices. By leveraging the collective buying power of the Carolinas, CarolinaBUY ensures transparency, value, and efficiency—making it a trusted procurement partner for organizations seeking reliable, ready‑to‑use contracts.

What is Cooperative Purchasing?

Cooperative purchasing is a procurement tool that allows organizations to purchase goods and services using existing contracts already solicited and awarded by other agencies.

Buying anything for a K-12 school, non-profit or government organization can become complicated quickly — especially when the cost of goods reaches a state’s requirement for a formal bid from vendors.

Benefits of CarolinaBUY

Free to join
Free quotes and assessments
Save time and money
Simplify your procure-to-pay process
Annual Rebates 
CarolinaBUY issues rebate payments annually to participating agencies based on their total contract spend. Each year, agencies receive a share of administrative revenue generated from their purchases.

Why Choose CarolinaBuy?

• Competitive Pricing: Nationally & Regionally bid contracts save time and money.
• Compliance & Transparency: Meets legal purchasing requirements.
• Broad Vendor Selection: Access to a wide range of products and services.
• Efficiency & Convenience: Simplifies the procurement process for public agencies.

By working together, AEPA and CarolinaBuy bring trusted cooperative purchasing solutions to North and South Carolina, ensuring public agencies get the best value with minimal effort.  AEPA & CarolinaBUY serve public agency members through a continuous effort to explore and solve present and future cooperative purchasing needs.  We are pleased to offer significant savings on everything it takes to run a school or office. Our contracts offer the best prices on quality products and services based on the needs of Educational Facilities, Non-Profit Organizations, and Municipalities across the nation.

Eligible Members

• Children Centers
• Churches
• Cities
• Counties
• Municipalities
• Human Service
• Nonprofits
• Parks and Recreation
• Public/Private Schools/Districts
• Public/Private Colleges & Universities
• Special Districts