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Juliana Hoffman
Director of Marketing & Communications, SAFEbuilt
Juliana leads SAFEbuilt’s thought leadership and webinar programme, helping communities navigate growth, limited staffing, and rising service expectations.
Break Through Approval Bottlenecks: How To Secure Municipal Support in Days
In this on-demand webinar, learn how to move from an urgent need to approved action in days without getting stuck in lengthy RFPs or risking compliance.
Ready To Solve Your Staffing & Backlog Gaps?
What You'll Learn
Assess Procurement Gaps
Identify the signs—like permit surges or staff resignations—that signal an urgent need for faster approval and outside support.
Use Cooperative Purchasing
Learn how partners like Omnia use pre-vetted contracts to help you meet bidding requirements without unnecessary delays.
Navigate Professional Services
Explore how board approval for professional services can legally move projects forward without a traditional RFP.
Address Compliance Concerns
Get the facts to help procurement teams understand why piggybacking is a common, fully compliant approach.
Gain the Speed Advantage
See how to move from a critical need to an active project in days, not months.
Protect Community Trust
See how timely staffing decisions prevent inspection backlogs that lead to resident complaints.
Featuring Your Hosts
Meet the SAFEbuilt experts sharing their insights in this session:
Steve Nero
Vice President of Sales & Customer Success, SAFEbuilt
Steve has been with SAFEbuilt for more than a decade and previously served as a local public servant. He works closely with communities to identify gaps and implement practical service solutions.
Why Speed Changes Everything
“This isn't a shortcut. We're not circumventing any rules... The goal here is to get public bid pricing to a jurisdiction as fast as possible so services and help can start. Time is everything when your community needs resources.”
— Steve Nero, Vice President of Sales & Customer Success, SAFEbuilt
Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Procurement requirements vary by jurisdiction. Agencies should consult their legal counsel and review applicable state and local laws, ordinances, and procurement policies before proceeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is cooperative purchasing?
Cooperative purchasing is a procurement vehicle that may allow a jurisdiction to engage a vendor for services while supporting compliance with local requirements.
By using a contract established by a “lead agency,” communities can leverage a process that has already gone through a public bidding and award process.
Is piggybacking a “shortcut” that avoids local competition?
No. Piggybacking is not about circumventing rules or skipping steps. It allows jurisdictions to use recent, publicly bid pricing that has already undergone a transparent review — when permitted under local policies.
How much time can we actually save compared to an RFP?
A traditional RFP process can take months or longer to complete. In some cases, using a cooperative contract allows a municipality to issue a purchase order and begin receiving support much sooner.
What if our procurement director is skeptical of these methods?
Skepticism is common and often stems from a need for education around how cooperative contracts work. The webinar emphasizes involving procurement early so teams can review documentation and confirm alignment with local rules.
Can these strategies be used for professional services?
In some states, certain municipal services may be classified as professional services. When allowed locally and approved by a board or council, this can provide another compliant path to engage support.
When should a city consider these options over a traditional bid?
These options are often explored when communities face urgent triggers (such as permit surges, complex projects, or sudden staffing gaps) and need to respond before delays impact residents.
More From the Real Roadblocks Webinar Series
Each session addresses a key issue that delays municipal projects and drains budgets.
3 Ways To Speed Up Inspections
Learn how remote video inspections help you complete more work without adding staff.
Accelerate Housing Development
Streamline approvals and reduce timelines without adding staff.