U.S. government alliance extends Advance deal

ROANOKE, Va. (Jan. 19, 2017) — The U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance has extended its relationship with Advance Auto Parts Inc. as the exclusive auto parts and accessories supplier for the 55,000-plus government, education, and nonprofit entities it represents.

The partnership will extend through December 2019, Advance Auto said, and represents both an extension and expansion of the benefits and services Advance began providing to U.S. Communities agencies in 2011.

U.S. Communities is the only government purchasing cooperative organization created by public agencies for public agencies, helping secure more than $2 billion in products and services for participating agencies each year.

"We are honored to grow Advance's relationship with U.S. Communities and take great pride in the confidence their organization has placed in our product assortment, automotive programs and Team Members," said Bob Cushing, executive vice president, professional, at Advance.

U.S. Communities participating agencies are eligible for special pricing on parts and accessories for fleet vehicles, as well as more than 600,000 parts available from Advance for light, medium and heavy duty cars and trucks.

Advance will offer instructor-led and web-based technician training programs to participating U.S. Communities agencies, and partner with participating agencies on online parts ordering and customized inventory management solutions. Parts and services are available from Advance, Carquest and Autopart International.

"As part of the competitive re-solicitation, Advance was selected based on their proposal which offered a great value and the most advantageous solution for public agencies to procure quality automotive products and services at competitive prices," said Karen Ewing, deputy chief procurement officer for the city of Charlotte, N.C.

Among the entities that take advantage of U.S. Communities services are: municipalities such as counties, cities, towns and villages; special districts, such as fire, sewer, water, etc.; public schools; state agencies; other local governments; and non-profits.