St. Charles, IL - American Office Products Distributors, Inc. (AOPD) applauds LA County's decision NOT to exercise the last option year of their current office supply contract but rather to look to the marketplace for innovative, competitive solutions.  It is our understanding that, as the lead agency for U.S. Communities, LA County seeks to provide exceptional value to thousands of government agencies across the United States.  It is evident that government entities are working on reducing procurement costs by advocating and signing strategic sourcing agreements nationwide.  The model that LA County and U.S. Communities have adopted has been widely accepted by many schools, municipalities and Purchasing Agents.

Bud Mundt, AOPD's Executive Director states, "It is our hope that LA county and U.S. Communities will entertain proposals that provide the exceptional service of independent, local office products dealers with the national capabilities of a proven independent dealer network."  To that end, AOPD plans to propose an initiative that will nationally enable AOPD's independent dealer network which includes:  "small business, women owned, minority owned and disadvantaged office products dealers with a platform to participate in the U.S. Communities contract.  AOPD has chosen approach that leverages its 32 years of experience of servicing the office products needs of regional and national accounts with "Local Service, Nationwide."  Our goal is to deliver an inspired solution that will blend a standard, centralized infrastructure with the customer focused entrepreneurial capabilities of community based independent dealers.

About AOPD
AOPD is the world's largest network distributor of office products.  AOPD has grown to include 94 dealers and affiliates with 173 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.  AOPD is focused on the development and implementation of regional, national and international office products distribution programs.