Purchasing Updates

View the PowerPoint presentation or read below.

Mission Statement

The Purchasing Services Department is committed to being an effective and efficient organization, which recognizes and supports the mission of the University of Connecticut Health Center: “Helping people achieve and maintain healthy lives and restoring wellness/health to maximum attainable levels.”

The acquisition of materials, equipment, and contractual services shall be predicated on the accomplishment of the mission; utilizing best purchasing practices, conducted to the highest standards of professional ethics and integrity in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.

Department Overview

Exciting Upcoming Changes

• SciQuest
• New e-procurement system
• Vendor look-up by commodity is easily accessible
• User group implementation sign-up
• Banner
• New Financial Services System
• User group implementation sign-up

E-Portal Update

• Current e-portal system to bridge with SciQuest
• Current Vendors:
• Fisher Scientific
• Sigma Aldrich
• Suburban Stationers
• Scheduled Additions:
  • Macalaster Bicknell (Will be added effective September 15, 2008)

Other Key Initiatives

• Cost Savings
• Product Standardization
• Gloves
• Tubes

• Green Buying

• Stem Cell Presence

Annual Vendor Show

Fall 2008 Fisher Scientific Annual Vendor Show

• Date: September 10, 2008
• Time: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Place: ARB large conference room
• Around 20 key research vendors will be attending.

Spring 2009 Molecular Core and Other Prominent Vendors

• Date forthcoming.
  

Compliance

By law, a contractor must provide the State with documentation in the form of a company or corporate policy adopted by resolution of the board of directors, shareholders, managers, members or other governing body of such contractor to support the nondiscrimination agreement and warranty under C.G.S. §§ 4a-60a and 46a-68h.

Recent Changes

• The Nondiscrimination Certification for State Contracts is required for all contracts signed on and after June 25, 2007.
• New Vendor set-up delays.

• Contracting requirements have increased
:
• Hartford Attorney General must review all Contracts and Affidavits.

Unauthorized Purchases

• Defined as a purchase transaction made by an individual without a valid Purchase Order (PO).
• All purchases, regardless of ordering mechanism shall be reviewed, approved, and processed by the Purchasing Services Department to ensure compliance with State & Federal purchasing statutes, group buying organizations and cooperative purchasing organization regulations.
• Contact us on our main line at 860-679-2408 to verify if an item is available through any of our contracted vendors.
• Check in FRS to see if the vendor has been set-up and place a requisition to obtain a Purchase Order.
• Visit the Policies and Procedures page for more information.
• If you have questions regarding the status of your unauthorized purchase request you can contact Nicole Smith at nrsmith@uchc.edu or 860-679-2244.

Small and Minority Business Supplier Diversity Program

• The State's Supplier Diversity program targets that at least 25% of the state's business is transacted with small businesses including those owned by minorities, women and the disabled.
• Connecticut General Statutes, 4a-60(g) was established for the purpose of assuring that Connecticut small and small minority owned businesses have an opportunity to bid on a portion of the state’s purchases.
• The purposes of Connecticut General Statute 4a-60g:
• To foster and encourage participation in State of Connecticut contracts.
• To stimulate the economic growth of Connecticut’s small and minority businesses.
• To use Connecticut’s small and minority owned businesses to meet Federal, State, Municipal and private development needs.

Small and Minority Business Initiatives

• Continue to provide ongoing outreach efforts and diversify our vendor database.
• Educate the UConn Health Center community about our contracted Small & Minority Business vendors.
• Current Small Business Vendors:
• Research: Macalaster Bicknell
• Office supply: Suburban Stationers
• View the list of contracted vendors by commodity.
• If you have any questions or concerns you can contact Nicole Smith at nrsmith@uchc.edu or 860-679-2244.