A Contracted Supplier is a vendor with whom the University has committed to provide a high percentage of it's spend for goods and services.
The University has entered into a number of contracts and agreements with these suppliers to manage optimisation of value in the total cost of the University's procurement.
If a contracted supplier arrangement is in place they must be used. Where the University has an existing contracted supplier (for example Document Services), it should be used in preference to any other supplier, provided it can meet the requirements.
More information regarding Contracted Suppliers can be found on the Strategic Procurement website by clicking here.
Yes, one quote is required.
Strategic Procurement has already obtained agreed pricing from the University's contracted suppliers and these are readily available on our website or through the supplier online catalogues.
Where the product is outside of our supplier's standard lines, you will need to request a quotation from the relevant contracted supplier.
Please contact Strategic Procurement Team if in doubt.
Where there is more than one contracted supplier, quotes should be obtained from both. This allows a comparison to be made and ensures that the University is receiving best value for money.
All of the University's Contracted Suppliers have agreed to specific levels of customer service. However, if you feel you are not receiving a satisfactory service or quality products from a Contracted Supplier, please contact Strategic Procurement Team in the first instance. We can help you resolve the problem and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to avoid any similar issues that may arise in the future.
Contracted Suppliers should be used as they are are contracted to the University and offer competitive pricing. Although staff often challenge the cost of goods, it is important to take into consideration the 'hidden costs'. This includes the costs associated with the time taken to search and source items and then process the individual payments or staff reimbursements. Contracted Suppliers provide the University with one single monthly invoice (rather than several) which also saves the University a considerable amount of time and money. Using suppliers that are unable to provide consolidated invoices results in costing the University substantially more.
In addition to this, purchasing from Contracted Suppliers will also ease your workload. In most cases, accounts payable process the consolidated invoice and the funds automatically get debited from your cost centre for the items you bought - making the purchase less of a burden to you.
Please do not hesitate to contact Strategic Procurement Team if you have any questions.