CSIU seeks bids for PEPPM 2026 catalog serving local agencies

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit #16 has opened a sealed-bid process for the PEPPM 2026 Catalog, inviting vendors to offer technology and instruction-related equipment, software, services and related products for use by local educational agencies and other eligible public bodies in Pennsylvania. The invitation, first posted January 8 and running in The Daily Item on January 8, 15 and 22, sets a bid deadline of Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Bids must be submitted electronically through the ePylon platform at epylon.com, and bidders must register on that site to participate. A public bid opening is scheduled for the same date and time and may be conducted electronically. Details and complete bid documents are available at peppm.org/bids.

The PEPPM cooperative purchasing program pools buying power for school districts and public agencies by offering catalog-based contracting. For Union County school districts and municipal agencies, the resulting contracts typically simplify procurement, reduce administrative time and expand options for classroom technology and administrative systems. Local vendors who secure catalog listings can reach multiple public buyers without negotiating separate contracts with each agency.

The notice includes a reminder that installation of certain products purchased under resulting contracts may be subject to applicable prevailing wage laws and rates. That requirement has budgetary and competitive implications: contractors must factor prevailing wages into proposals for labor-intensive installations, and purchasing agencies must consider total project costs when selecting vendors or approving purchases.

CSIU also retained standard procurement discretion in its notice, reserving the right to accept or reject any and all bids and to waive informalities. That language gives the intermediate unit flexibility to ensure compliance and value for public buyers, but it also places a premium on clear, complete bid submissions and on proactive vendor communication with CSIU procurement staff.

Local small businesses and contractors should register on ePylon, review the specifications at peppm.org/bids and confirm whether proposed installations will trigger prevailing wage obligations before submitting pricing. School boards and municipal leaders should track the bid opening and subsequent contract awards, since PEPPM listings will shape available procurement options across Union County for the coming year.

The bid opening on February 12 will determine which vendors are enrolled in the PEPPM catalog for 2026, with direct effects on local budgets, vendor opportunities and the inventory of classroom and administrative technology available to Union County public agencies.