Syndicated procurement
Syndicated procurement is a purchasing method whereby a syndicate manager groups together multiple concurrent orders from multiple buyers with intent to reduce the purchase price or facilitate delivery. "Example": Five distinct government agencies each require 2,000 new ergonomic office chairs. For an order of 2,000 units, the chair manufacturer is willing to sell at $100 each. Hence, if procuring independently, each government agency will pay $100 per chair. However, for an order of 10,000 chairs, the manufacturer is willing to reduce his price to $70 per unit. The five agencies can therefore pool their demand  in order to lower the price by 30%. Note that the buyers will change nothing in their order, except that they procure in concert, through a syndicate manager. Real-world examples. Auto industry. Competing German automobile manufacturers often procure steel in combined orders to reduce price. Government. In early 2010 New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development considered using syndicated procurement to purchase computers collectively with other New Zealand government agencies. Construction. Australian building firms and contractors have begun to use syndicated procurement to purchase building materials. Procurement rounds have yielded price reductions of between 30% and 45%. Legal considerations . In many jurisdictions syndicated procurement must be executed through a professional manager. Otherwise, competing firms placing orders together can be legally deemed to be price fixing, or artificially controlling market prices. However, syndicated procurement through a professional manager is the legal equivalent of purchasing through a wholesaler, and is therefore legally permissible. Professional syndicate managers also provide a forum for syndication to competing firms that otherwise might be uncomfortable working together (this benefit is much more relevant to the private sector than to government agencies and non-profits). Efficiency. Syndicated procurement is potentially more efficient than traditional procurement, because the  syndicate manager identifies the precise volume, time, and locus of demand before the order is placed. Syndicate managers eliminate these three inefficiencies by knowing in advance exactly where, when, and how much of a given product will be needed. Leadership and innovation. Facilitated by evolving telecommunications technologies and global logistics services, syndicated procurement is a fairly recent concept. A few pioneers are developing and establishing its methods and conventions: Public sector. The New Zealand government has been a leader in introducing syndicated procurement among different government agencies. The New Zealand Ministry of Social Development has been particularly active in encouraging  syndicated procurement.