Notwithstanding any other law or rule, any two (2) or more school committees may establish joint purchasing agreements between and among themselves or with the Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators (“RISTE”), a domestic, nonprofit corporation, for the purposes of establishing bids pursuant to chapter 55 of Title 45, and jointly purchasing technology-related goods and services. The RISTE, acting on behalf of any school committee(s) that are members of a joint purchasing agreement with RISTE, may establish specifications and bid on behalf of the member school districts. The RISTE shall comply with bidding requirements of chapter 55 of Title 45. The RISTE and any consortia created pursuant to a joint purchase agreement under this chapter shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits set forth in § 37-2-56. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section permits any non-public school or non-public school district access to the master price agreement maintained by the department of administration, division of purchases.