Customer FAQs
What is the IEC?
How is the IEC funded?
How does the IEC get such aggressive discounts?
How do I know I am receiving quality products?
What organizations are eligible to purchase through the IEC?
How do I become a member of the IEC?
How do I place an order?
Who do I contact for customer service issues?
How can my organization learn more about the IEC?
Can I purchase products through the IEC for personal use?
The Iowa Educators Consortium, IEC, is an initiative of the Iowa Area Education Agencies. Iowa AEAs formed the IEC as an independent, tax-exempt, nonprofit institution supporting the mission of the Area Education Agencies. The primary function of the IEC is to provide a voluntary purchasing program for K-12 schools by bringing all statewide school purchasing programs under one legal umbrella and one fiscal management group. The IEC is overseen by an Operations Committee composed of members from AEAs across Iowa.
The IEC is self-supported by a minimal administrative fee already built into the pricing and paid by the vendors. Our clients do not pay any annual dues or extra fees to participate.
How does the IEC get such aggressive discounts?
The IEC follows legal bidding procedures to acquire competitive statewide pricing based on the purchasing volume of many Iowa schools and other eligible clients. We are also a member of AEPA Inc. (Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies) which is an organization made up of 23 different states that collaborate and bid contracts on a national level. These contracts are specified on the website by this symbol:
How do I know I am receiving quality products?
Staff members and advisory committees work with vendors, manufacturers, product reviews and product literature to determine the best product/cost value for schools. We do the research, analysis and evaluation so you don’t have to. Vendors must follow the contracts bid terms and conditions which helps to insure that quality service and products are provided. Product qualities, as well as cost, are just a few aspects of the feasibility process.
What organizations are eligible to purchase through the IEC?
If you are employed by any of the following organizations, you are eligible to purchase through the IEC. There are a few exceptions. Each vendor web page has a section titled “Clients Eligible for Participation” for verification.
Area Education Agencies
Public or Private K-12 School Districts
Accredited Preschools
Colleges and Universities
Public Libraries
City, County and State Government
How do I become a member of the IEC?
The IEC does not consist of ‘members’ nor does it charge ‘membership dues’. It is a voluntary program that is open to all eligible clients (see above). To benefit from IEC discounts, all you need to do is contact any IEC listed vendor and request IEC pricing. A few of our contracts require a specific contract or bid number. These are listed on that particular IEC vender web page.
For most of our contracts eligible clients place orders directly with the vendor via fax, phone, website, or sales representative. Each vendor that has been awarded a bid has their own section on the IEC’s web site (www.iec-ia.org). There, visitors can learn all about the contract details, who the appropriate vendor contacts are, how to order, client eligibility and any other special information the vendor wants to share. With most contracts, you work directly with the vendors.
Who do I contact for customer service issues?
For order status, billing questions, returns and other related issues, contact the vendor directly unless otherwise stated on the IEC vendor web page.
For pricing, contract details and vendor communication issues please contact the IEC staff member listed at the bottom of each vendor web page.
How can my organization learn more about the IEC?
IEC staff members participate in numerous trade shows throughout the year (click here for a complete list) and are available for meeting presentations or individual visits by request.
Can I purchase products through the IEC for personal use?
There are several vendors that provide discounts for personal purchases. For detailed information refer to the “Teacher & Student Buys” section on the IEC website.
