Committee clears MetroHealth authorization to continue group purchasing contracts for 2026

The Cuyahoga County Public Works Procurement and Contracting Committee voted to report Resolution 20250328 to the full council, recommending authorization for MetroHealth System to participate in one or more group purchasing organizations (GPOs) for calendar year 2026, as allowed under Ohio Revised Code §339.05.

Mike Jones, Executive Director of Supply Chain at MetroHealth, said the system partners with national GPOs — including Premier, Visiant and HealthTrust — to procure clinical supplies and equipment under competitively procured contracts. Jones said MetroHealth’s current group purchasing arrangement began with a five-year agreement entered in 2022 and runs through 2028. He said the program generates significant financial return, adding that the system’s “share back fees are above $2,000,000.”

Committee members asked how the arrangement differs from a direct county or state contract and how participation is structured. Jones said the GPOs run competitive bid processes and make the resulting supplier contracts available to public entities; MetroHealth uses those contracting authorities when the supplier/service is available within the GPO. He clarified that MetroHealth still issues direct public bids when a needed supplier or service is not available through the GPO.

A committee member noted that state law requires the committee to authorize such participation annually; the clerk confirmed the committee can only authorize participation one year at a time, and the item will return each year for the upcoming authorization. After discussion, the committee voted in favor of reporting the resolution to the council with a recommendation for passage on second-reading suspension. The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the chair announced, “Ayes have it.”

The resolution was read into the record as approving MetroHealth’s policies and procedures to participate in joint purchasing associations for the stated purpose of acquiring supplies, equipment and services for 2026.