Access Best-In-Class Solutions and Fast-Track Purchasing with TIPS
Residents expect to reach you, especially when something goes wrong. But replacing aging phone systems can lead to procurement headaches and a drawn-out RFP process that requires soliciting and evaluating competitive bids.
There is a quicker, more streamlined path, and not every local government, municipality, school, utility, and non-profit knows it exists. It's called The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS), and HostMy is TIPS approved. This means your organization can purchase HostMy's award-winning hosted voice and text solutions, including Voice Intelligence, through TIPS without having to issue an RFP.
Quick and Easy Procurement
TIPS is a national purchasing cooperative that handles competitive bidding on behalf of its members. TIPS completes an RFP process in advance that vets, prequalifies and awards contracts to deserving solution providers, so the bid work is done even before your team starts shopping. TIPS contracts are accessible to eligible local governments and municipalities, schools, utilities and non-profits nationwide. Members can purchase HostMyCalls, including Voice Intelligence, and HostMyText immediately and without the typical red tape.
The Benefits of Purchasing Through TIPS
TIPS takes the hardest part of technology purchasing off your plate:
No RFP to write or score. TIPS has already evaluated bids and contracted winners.
Faster decisions. Your team can move from evaluation to purchase without starting a new bid cycle.
A clean paper trail. When your PO goes through TIPS, TIPS verifies it against the contract and sends you a compliance letter for your records.
No cost to join. TIPS is free to join and there is no obligation to buy.
Once a member of TIPS, you only need to confirm that solutions you purchase through TIPS align with your state's purchasing laws, rules, and regulations. For help confirming this, simply contact the TIPS team at 866-839-8477.
County Makes a Last Minute Switch to Their Preferred Vendor Because of TIPS
When HostMy Channel Managers, Jenny Barnes and Brian Hunter recently met with a local Tennessee county, they were the last vendor through the door. The county's representative was candid with them: a decision had already been made, so the meeting was a courtesy.
After a short demo, Jenny Barnes mentioned HostMy's TIPS contract, and the conversation immediately shifted. The county preferred the convenience of working with a TIPS approved vendor. The other provider it had chosen was not TIPS approved. Within a week, the county chose to upgrade 300 devices to HostMyCalls.
"The county was willing to give us a chance…In the end, HostMy having that TIPS contract really sealed the deal." ~ Cyndee Purdy-Godsey, BCTI, County Consultant
Why Organizations Choose HostMy
TIPS makes HostMy easy to buy. But, the service and support organizations experience during and after installation is what keeps them loyal and recommending HostMy.
When Hurricane Helene left Cocke County, Tennessee, without phone service, its existing provider estimated an extended outage. The county called HostMy late on a Wednesday. By Friday morning, phones at the Sheriff's office, election commission, and other county services were back online, a 36-hour turnaround.
The Roane County Health Department faced a different crisis. Its four-line phone system couldn't keep up during the pandemic, and residents struggled to reach vital health services and information. HostMy installed a new phone system in a matter of hours, and the department went on to handle 8 times its previous call volume.
"Our phone system couldn't handle the volume, crashing daily. We switched to HostMyCalls and it made a world of a difference." ~ Laura Conner, Roane County Health Department Director
HostMy is family-owned and operated. The company has offered hosted voice services since 2001. Local governments, municipalities, schools, utilities and non-profits that work with HostMy get:
Expert installation and responsive, U.S.-based tech support
No hidden fees
Latest phone technology and a full suite of call management features
Add lines or move locations quickly and easily
Speedy service restoration with Starlink backup for redundancy
How to Use TIPS to Purchase HostMy
Join TIPS for free at tips-usa.com.
Meet with Jenny Barnes, Government Channel Manager, to get more detailed information on HostMy or TIPS.
Issue your purchase order referencing TIPS Contract #250106. Our TIPS purchasing page walks through each step.
Select a Time to Meet with Jenny Barnes to see what HostMy and TIPS can do for your community, or visit our Government Services page to learn more.