How to buy IT through Texas DIR
To buy through a Texas DIR cooperative contract: confirm your organization is an eligible DIR customer, find the DIR contract that covers what you need, request a quote from a vendor or authorized reseller on that contract, then issue a purchase order to the vendor that references the DIR contract number. DIR has already run the competitive solicitation, so you buy from a pre-negotiated master contract instead of soliciting bids yourself.
What a DIR cooperative contract is
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) competitively solicits and negotiates master contracts for IT hardware, software, and services, then makes them available for eligible customers to buy from directly. Because DIR has already done the competitive procurement, an eligible customer can purchase off the contract without running its own bid.
These are the contracts you see referenced as DIR-CPO numbers. Each one names the products or services it covers, the vendors and resellers authorized to sell under it, and the ceiling pricing DIR negotiated.
The buying steps
The process is customer-managed: you select the contract, request pricing, and issue the order. In practice it looks like this:
- Confirm eligibility. Make sure your organization is an eligible DIR customer (state agencies, local governments, schools, higher education, and more, see the eligibility guide).
- Find the right contract. Identify the DIR contract that covers the product or service you need.
- Request a quote. Contact a vendor or an authorized reseller on that contract for pricing against your requirement.
- Check purchasing thresholds. Texas sets purchasing thresholds that may call for additional steps, such as requesting pricing from more than one vendor on the contract.
- Issue the purchase order. Send a PO directly to the vendor with the DIR contract number referenced on it.
Pricing: not-to-exceed, and negotiable
DIR's negotiated prices are not-to-exceed ceilings, not fixed list prices. They are a starting point: a customer can negotiate below the contract rate, and on labor-based contracts DIR explicitly notes customers may further negotiate candidate rates. It is worth asking your reseller for sharper pricing on larger or competitive buys.
The administrative fee
DIR funds the cooperative program through an administrative fee capped at 2%. The vendor remits that fee to DIR; it is built into the pricing you are quoted, so there is no separate line item or extra charge that lands on your purchase order.
Do state agencies have to use DIR?
Texas state agencies are generally required to purchase commodity IT (commercial hardware, software, and technology services) through DIR under Texas Government Code §2157.068. The statute provides for exceptions, including an exemption granted by DIR, prior approval from the Legislative Budget Board, or DIR certifying in writing that the item is not available on an existing DIR contract. Local governments, schools, and other eligible entities are not required to use DIR but may choose to for the pre-negotiated pricing and reduced procurement workload.
Where Acachi fits in
Acachi is a certified MBE prime contractor and an authorized reseller on Texas DIR cooperative contracts. We help you match your requirement to the right DIR contract, return a clean quote, and deliver the products or licenses, with the purchase order referencing the DIR contract number so the buy stays on a compliant, pre-competed path.
You can see the specific contracts and the manufacturer brands available on each on our contracts and brand-matrix pages.
Related guides
Questions, answered.
Common questions from procurement teams.
How do I purchase through a Texas DIR contract?
Confirm your organization is an eligible DIR customer, find the DIR contract that covers what you need, request a quote from a vendor or authorized reseller on that contract, and issue a purchase order to the vendor that references the DIR contract number. DIR has already competitively awarded the contract, so you do not run your own solicitation.
Is there a fee to buy through DIR?
DIR caps its cooperative-contract administrative fee at 2%, and the vendor remits it to DIR. It is built into the price you are quoted, so it does not appear as a separate charge on your purchase order.
Are DIR contract prices fixed?
No. DIR prices are not-to-exceed ceilings, not fixed prices. You can negotiate below the contract rate, which is worth doing on larger or competitive purchases.
Do Texas state agencies have to buy IT through DIR?
Generally yes for commodity IT, under Texas Government Code §2157.068, unless the agency has a DIR exemption, prior Legislative Budget Board approval, or DIR certifies the item is not available on an existing DIR contract. Local governments and schools are eligible to use DIR but are not required to.
Sources
This guide is general information, not procurement advice. Confirm current specifics with the official sources below.
Ready to buy through a cooperative contract?
Tell us what you need and how you buy. Acachi will map it to the right product, partner, and contract vehicle.