Making Purchases

Procurement Services is the only University organization authorized to negotiate and implement University-wide discount pricing agreements. These supplier discount pricing agreements provide the University with the "least total cost" for most commonly ordered products and services required from external suppliers.

To ensure that the University maximizes the value of every dollar of funding, Financial Policy #2306 - Contract Compliance requires all faculty and staff to utilize preferred contract suppliers for those commodities where a university-wide discount pricing agreement has been implemented.

The benefits of ordering from a preferred contract or marketplace participating supplier.

• Negotiated “least total cost pricing” based on total annual purchase volume.
• Ordering made easy with access to online product content, product configuration, and additional product related information.
• No competitive bidding requirement for purchases greater than $10,000.
• Sales representation on campus for personalized service for your requirements.
• Defined supplier performance expectations.
• History of service and quality to UPenn.
• Commitment to environmentally sustainable production practices.
• Commitment to local community and diversity business development.
• Annual supplier performance reviews by Procurement Services.