If you have questions about this news item, please contact us.
September 30, 2009 - Supply Management (purchasing)
The following announcement was sent by e-mail to people who have asked to hear from the Office for Supply Management Services (SMS). If you would like to subscribe to receive, or unsubscribe from receiving announcements from SMS please send an e-mail to cusms@cornell.edu.
Dear Cornell Faculty and Staff who procure for university purposes,
Since the release in February 2009 of University Policy 3.25, Procurement of Goods and Services, we have received many questions and comments about the situations in which e-SHOP must be used, and the categorization of Preferred Suppliers.
The purpose of this message is to clarify the intent of the policy and the new procedures because they are important components of the university’s effort to reduce the budget deficit.
Use of e-SHOP
The first area of confusion has come from a perception that e-SHOP must be used for all purchasing. If a commodity or supplier you wish to work with is not in e-SHOP, then you certainly can use the preexisting purchase methods. However, please note that for the vendors that are in e-SHOP, e-SHOP is the only approved purchase method.
Preferred Suppliers
The second area of confusion pertains to Preferred Suppliers. Preferred Suppliers have participated in a competitive proposal and negotiation process and have agreed to provide the best overall value to the university. Utilization of these suppliers enables the Office for Supply Management Services (SMS) to leverage the university’s significant buying power and aggregated purchase volume to continually enhance existing contracts. However, you may use an alternative supplier selection process. This would require approval from your department and an SMS purchasing agent.
We have implemented this policy in order to better support you by providing streamlined access to procurement solutions for the situations in which the university can save substantially in time and expense by utilizing technology (e-SHOP) and negotiated agreements (Preferred Suppliers).
Below are some resources that will help you determine what purchasing method to use, which supplier to use, and how to choose alternate vendors.
Please contact any of the SMS purchasing agents, or contact me directly, if you have further questions.
Thomas Romantic
Senior Director, Supply Channel Management and Business Services
