(1)    The department may enter into an agreement with a municipality or group of municipalities, and municipalities may enter into agreements with each other, under which any of the parties may agree to participate in, administer, sponsor or conduct purchasing transactions under a joint contract for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, permanent personal property, miscellaneous capital or contractual services. This subsection does not apply to construction contracts that are subject to s. 16.855 or 66.0901.

   (2)   The department may purchase and store in warehouses articles that may be needed by agencies and municipalities. The department may sell stored articles to municipalities at cost.

   (3)   The department may, upon request, make available to municipalities technical purchasing information including, but not limited to, standard forms, manuals, product specifications and standards and contracts or published summaries of contracts, including price and delivery information.

   (4)   

      (a)    When it is in the best interest of the state and consistent with competitive purchasing practices, the department may enter into agreements with purchasing agents of any other state or the federal government under which any of the parties may agree to participate in, administer, sponsor or conduct purchasing of materials, supplies, equipment, permanent personal property, miscellaneous capital or contractual services. The state may purchase from any vendor selected as a result of such purchasing agreements. This paragraph does not apply to construction contracts that are subject to s. 16.855 or 66.0901.

      (b)    The department may cooperate with purchasing agents and other interested parties of any other state or the federal government to develop uniform purchasing specifications under s. 16.72 (2) on a regional or national level to facilitate cooperative interstate purchasing transactions.

   (5)   The department or its agents may enter into an agreement with the University of Wisconsin System under which either of the parties may agree to participate in, administer, or conduct purchasing transactions under a contract for the purchase of materials, supplies, equipment, permanent personal property, miscellaneous capital, or contractual services.

   (6)   The department shall administer a program to facilitate purchases of large equipment that is needed by municipalities. The department shall purchase large equipment as a part of the program. The department may, by rule, prescribe requirements for participation in the program and for participation in specific purchases under the program.