A purchasing consortium, or group purchasing organization $($GPO$)$:

a$.$

is a form of collaborative purchasing used only by the public sector to deliver a wider range of services at a lower total cost.

b$.$

speeds up the purchasing process, but does not usually result in price concessions from suppliers.

c$.$

results in only price concessions from suppliers, and usually does not standardize the purchasing process.

d$.$

consists of two or more divisions of the same organization that combine requirements for materials, services, and capital goods to gain better pricing, service, and technology.

e$.$

consists of two or more independent organizations that combine requirements for materials, services, and capital goods to gain better pricing, service, and technology.