Cooperative Purchasing Contract used for Modular Classrooms

Cooperative purchasing made it possible for a school district to simply process a purchase order to start construction on a new school addition. That was possible for two reasons:  1) because GroundFORCE Building Systems has a contract with Choice Facility Partners, a facilities cooperative purchasing organization, and 2) because GroundFORCE builds modular buildings from their 250,000 sq.ft plant in Navasota, Texas.

Orangefield High School in Orangefield ISD, added new modular classrooms for life-skills classes with these modular buildings. The modular classrooms feature a full kitchen, changing table and ADA shower, and replace portable buildings that would not meet mandated standards. Funded by IDEA-B monies, the modular building design was influenced by the district’s special education department who worked to ensure all needs were addressed, including a sensory room, designated place for occupation and physical therapy, rooms inside the modular classroom building for vocational training, health care, speech therapy, special instruction, recreation, plus internet wiring for communication.

The 2,430 sq.ft. modular building was completed in five sections, then assembled. The interior finish and exterior brick of the modular classrooms were selected to match the existing high school.

“This was a painless process and the timeline was unbelievable,” said Orangefield ISD Superintendent Philip Welch. “Because GroundFORCE belongs to a purchasing cooperative we didn’t have to go out for bid,” referring to the cooperative purchasing contract with Choice Facility Partners.

Rodney Boehm, chief operating officer, GroundFORCE Building Systems, reiterated that the cooperative purchasing contract with Choice Facility Partners has been a real asset to them and their customers.

“It’s helping us tremendously,” said Boehm.  “Our schools can concentrate on their building instead of a bidding process. They know they get a fair price and they are able to dramatically cut down on their paperwork,” since Choice Facility Partners, the cooperative purchasing organization, has already competitively bid the contracts.

Many of the new modular building orders at GroundFORCE Building Systems are for school science labs. Because of the unique concrete foundation, the modular buildings look permanent, although they qualify as modular for the cooperative purchasing contract.

For more information about cooperative purchasing for modular classrooms and buildings with Choice Facility Partners, go to http://www.choicefaciltypartners.org

The GroundFORCE Building Systems project at Atlanta ISD required adding a science lab and modular classroom of approximately 3,400 sq.ft. over the summer, so they could meet new mandates for science courses by the beginning of the fall semester. After the district chose to use the Choice Facility Partners cooperative purchasing contract which had been awarded by their sponsoring agency of Harris County Department of Education, GroundFORCE Building Systems met with administration and the science department to develop a modular classroom design, and worked to match components in the interior and modular building exterior to the existing high school, which was built circa 1969. Ultimately, the modular building was delivered in seven sections and completed as a state-of-the-art science lab with six student workstations in each lab, instructor’s table, two-sided fume hoods, eyewash/showers, emergency utility cut-off and wiring for computers.

“I never had to worry about this job,” said Sidney Harrist, assistant superintendent, Atlanta ISD about the GroundFORCE project initiated through the cooperative purchasing organization. “Everything went as planned.”

Other recent projects completed through the Choice Facility Partners cooperative purchasing contract include: two modular classrooms for Pre-K and special education at Ben Milam Elementary, Cameron ISD; new administration, special education and kindergarten classrooms in modular buildings at Groveton ISD in Groveton, which is in southeast Texas; a three-room elementary modular classroom addition at Wild Peach Elementary in Columbia –Brazoria ISD in the Houston area; and a science Lab and modular classroom addition at Santa Maria ISD in the valley.

To see a time-lapse video of the GroundFORCE building construction, go to

more information about the GroundFORCE Building Systems cooperative purchasing contract with Choice Facility Partners, go to http://www.choicefacilitypartners.org; select partners and then GroundFORCE or go to www.gogroundforce.com.