Purchasing

Building Connections: Doing Business with UT

It is Purchasing’s responsibility to ensure suppliers have all the tools and information required to understand how to do business with the University.  It is through these tools we ensure suppliers are afforded the opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities to service the university either through an informal quote or formal competitive process.  It takes both sides however to nurture, develop and build a connection that eventually leads to a lasting relationship.

To increase chances for success, suppliers should consider the following:

  1. Get Certified: Consistent with most organizations committed to advancing procurement opportunities with diverse suppliers, our efforts are concentrated on those suppliers that have been independently certified. See certification info below for more information.
  1. Get to know the University Procurement team – our supply chain website hosts a lot of information regarding how to do business with the university, where to find current RFx events and how to connect with our team. See ‘link’s for additional detail
  1. Get Registered: register online via our supplier portal. (see info at end of this document for discussion). This registration is the first touch point with the university procurement team.  Be ready to introduce yourself and educate us on your capabilities that differentiate you from other suppliers and how you may be able to help the university achieve its goals and objectives.   [ add upload capability statement/document to portal]

To provide education for new suppliers, here is a basic listing of key elements we expect from our suppliers:

  • Quality - The University places high standards of performance for itself and the products and services we procure. We expect the same levels of performance from our suppliers in relation to quality of goods or services, responsiveness to requests, and service level standard commitments.
  • Customer Centeredness – We desire suppliers who understand their customers business initiatives and have goals and objectives established to provide superior customer service.
  • Competitive Price - We appreciate suppliers who continually offer ways to help us lower our costs through product/service savings, assistance in standardization or utilization of items, or identifying operational or process improvement opportunities to drive efficiencies.
  • Innovativeness - We desire suppliers who can be creative and who are willing to work toward continuous improvement and more efficient products and services. 
  • Technology - We look favorably on suppliers who take advantage of the use of technology to maintain a competitive edge.

In return, here is what suppliers can expect from the Purchasing team:

  • Information - We will provide suppliers with as much information as possible as to how the purchasing process works, along with assisting suppliers in understanding the requirements of a request for proposal or construction bid process.
  • Fair treatment – Fair and impartial consideration is given to all interested suppliers who can meet the University’s requirements of quality, service, competitive price, innovativeness and technological capacity to advance the University’s mission. 
  • Feedback – It is Purchasing’s commitment to provide feedback regarding performance and other business issues to cultivate new relationships and strengthen existing ones.
Last Updated: 7/15/24