*NEW* Website and Due Diligence Features for Direct Online Order Contracts
by Contracts and IT Team
Mohave has simplified the process of identifying our Direct Online Order contracts. As a reminder, these contracts allow members to place orders directly on the vendor’s website without sending purchase orders to Mohave. To assist our members in recognizing these contracts, we have implemented the following changes:
On Our Website:
Contract Vendor’s Mohave Landing Page: A notice has been added to indicate Direct Online Order contracts.
Under the More Info tab:
Contract Info Guide (1): The guide has been renamed to avoid confusion with a User Guide. This document contains the most pertinent contract information.
Direct Online Order User Guide (2): This guide provides additional ordering instructions for Direct Online Order contracts.
In Our Due Diligence Packages:
Solicitation Documents: A new page has been added to the first file of the solicitation documents to highlight if the contract is a Direct Online Order. This page serves as a reminder to place orders directly online on the contract vendor’s website.
New page added as a reminder:
Please contact contracts@mesc.org if you need more help or have questions about these new features. 
Sea you at AASBO’s 71st Annual Conference
by Engagement Team
Mohave is excited to go on the cruise to Tucson, Arizona to “sea” you at this year’s AASBO Summer Conference. If you want to stay out of the treacherous procurement waters, join Mohave at one of the following sessions to make sure you don’t get waterlogged, or left high and dry on a deserted island.
- 107 (Purchasing): Are You Swimming in the Right Waters? Ensure Your Quote Holds the Essential Details! with Erin Gordon – Mohave Cooperative; Elyse Orozco – Littleton ESD; Joanne Douglas – Deer Valley USD; Tanya Tyler – CounterTrade Products, Inc.; Rachel Ayers – Dysart USD and Jessica Leasure – Dysart USD.
- 307 (Purchasing): Contract Management: What Does It Look Like on your Agency’s Contracts vs. Cooperative Contracts with Michael Carter – Mohave Cooperative; Missy Mudry – Sunny Path Associates, LLC; Lila McCleery – Phoenix UHSD and Gary Barkman – Mesa Public Schools.
- 407 (Purchasing): Mastering Job Order Contracts – Navigating Pricing Structures and Ensuring Contract Compliance with Sherry Jimenez – Mohave Cooperative; Claudia Leon – 1GPA and Gary Barkman – Mesa Public Schools.
- 803 (Child Nutrition): Navigating Cooperative Contracts with Erin Gordon – Mohave Cooperative; Rebecca Seifert – 1GPA and Rick Hall – Creighton SD.
- 810 (Professional Development): Public Speaking Overcoming Fears and Excelling at Every Level with Lari Staples – Mohave Cooperative; Courtney Piña – Buckeye Elementary SD and Dale Ponder – Crane ESD.
ASPIN Visits Colorado SNA
by ASPIN Team
ASPIN recently had the opportunity to visit Loveland, Colorado for the Colorado School Nutrition Association conference. The conference featured several notable initiatives and sessions aimed at enhancing school nutrition and fostering community engagement.Highlights included:
- Keynote – Denise Soler Cox presentation theme on belonging, including positive interdependency
- Spanish Track – dedicated track for Spanish-speaking participants provided inclusivity
- Instant Product Feedback – the conference app allowed food show attendees to rate and share comments instantly with brokers and manufacturers
- Local Producers Room – featuring local agriculture and reinforcing the importance of supporting local producers
Breakout sessions included:
- USDA Foods
- School Lunch Around the World
- Local Food Lessons
- Visionary versus Innovative Leadership