Policy and Overview

The goal of the Purchasing department is to ensure responsible spending through the organization and administration of a centralized purchasing service. We procure furniture, fixtures, equipment and supplies for multiple applications; produce bid documents for equipment maintenance contracts, cleaning and auxiliary enterprises, and capital purchases for new construction and technologies and minority procurement plan.

Purchasing is an ongoing process that responds to the changing needs in our university environment, and to changing service opportunities in the marketplace.

The process includes, in part:

Providing planning services to departments

• budget estimates for furnishings and equipment, including phone and data service
• recommendations for products and services
• coordinate procurement of goods and services, delivery and installation

Researching and developing sources of supply

• developing requests for proposals for contract services
  (i.e. copiers, auto rental, food services, travel, PC maintenance, etc.)
• securing competitive bids
• negotiating volume discounts

Building relationships with vendors

• insuring prompt (net 30) payment
• establishing centralized billing
• encouraging personalized customer service
• managing non-conforming goods problems