Cooperative Guides
E&I Cooperative Services: A Buyer’s Guide for Higher Education
E&I is the only major purchasing cooperative built exclusively for education — and it's member-owned. Here's what it covers, how membership works, and when it should be your first stop.
Last reviewed: August 2026
E&I Cooperative Services — short for Educational & Institutional — is a member-owned, non-profit purchasing cooperative created specifically for the education community. Unlike the broader cooperatives that serve government, healthcare, and the private sector, E&I works only with colleges, universities, K-12 districts, and research institutions. If a purchase is distinctly higher-ed, E&I is usually the first contract vehicle worth checking.
Best for: campus-specific categories — scientific and lab equipment, furniture, library, IT, and research services — where an education-only cooperative understands the requirements better than a general one.
What makes E&I different
Two things set E&I apart. First, it is member-owned: the institutions that use it are also its owners, so it is governed around their needs rather than an outside company's margins. Second, it is education-only. That focus means its contracts, categories, and terms are shaped by how campuses actually buy — including academic governance and public-education compliance requirements that a general-purpose cooperative may not account for.
Categories E&I is strongest in
- Scientific & laboratory — reagents, equipment, and lab supplies
- Furniture — classroom, residence-hall, library, and office
- Library — books, materials, and services
- Technology & IT — hardware, software, and services
- Facilities & MRO — maintenance, repair, and operations
- Professional & administrative services
How to use an E&I contract
- Confirm membership. Joining is free; most institutions are already members.
- Find the contract for the supplier or category you need.
- Verify it satisfies your state and institutional rules with your procurement office.
- Purchase off the contract at the awarded pricing — no separate RFP required.
One thing to watch
Because E&I is education-only, its portfolio is deep in campus categories but narrower overall than a cooperative like OMNIA Partners. For broad or unusual purchases, it is worth comparing E&I against Sourcewell and OMNIA to see who has the better contract for that specific supplier — see the three-way comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What does E&I stand for?
Is E&I Cooperative Services a GPO?
How much does E&I membership cost?
Who can join E&I?
Related guides
- SourcewellA buyer’s guide to Sourcewell for colleges and universities — how the cooperative works, whether it’s legit, what it costs, and the categories it covers best.
- OMNIA PartnersA buyer’s guide to OMNIA Partners for colleges and universities — how the largest cooperative works, how membership works, and what it’s best for.
- NASPO ValuePointA buyer’s guide to NASPO ValuePoint for colleges and universities — the state-led cooperative, why access depends on your state, and where it’s strongest.
- Sourcewell vs. OMNIA vs. E&IA neutral, buyer-focused comparison of the three cooperatives higher-ed procurement teams use most — how they differ, what each is best for, and how to choose.