Current News
This page provides procurement-related news including featured stories from our Dollars & Sense newsletter, current updates related to our Preferred Vendors, and upcoming events. You can also view News Stories By Year or view Back Issues of our newsletter for more information.
Featured Stories
- New Travel Contracts: Preparing for Northwestern's New Online Booking Tool
- Changes to Vendor File Management Team
- Winter Recess Coverage
- New Shuttle Contract
- For Research Participants: Tango Gift Card Program
- Trademark & Licensing: Product Orders with Licensed Manufacturers
- Update to Dell Return Policy
Regular Features
New Contracts
Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) conducts many Invitations to Bid to establish contracts for use by departments and schools. These contracts may be for use by all departments and schools, which are Preferred Vendors, or they may be contracts for use by specific departments and schools. Contracts are established based on the results of a formal, competitive Invitation to
Recent Contracts Established by PPS |
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Existing Contract Updates
Updates to existing contracts established by Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) may include new contact information for dedicated representatives, service updates, and newly available products. For questions about these updates, please view the individual vendor pages on the Preferred Vendor List or contact PPS at 847.491.8120 or procurement@northwestern.edu.
Recent Changes Made to Contracts Established by PPS |
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Contracts We're Working On
Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) is always working to establish Preferred Vendor contracts that best serve the needs of all Northwestern departments and schools. These are a combination of new contracts and timely rebids of current contracts. For questions about these or other bids, please contact PPS at 847.491.8120 or procurement@northwestern.edu.
- PC Hardware Preferred Vendor Evaluation
- Office of Civil Rights AAP Software RFP
- NUIT Data Center Engineering Services RFP
- Maintenance, Repair, Operations supplies
- Temp staffing services
- Office Furniture
- Signage/Banners
- Janitorial Supplies (in early 2025)
Travel Related
Travel Related Updates |
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Omni Hotels and Resorts is Proud to Announce an Expanded Partnership with Northwestern University Omni Hotels and Resorts, one of our Chicago preferred hotels, is happy to offer Northwestern travelers 15% off their best available rate at most of their hotels including Omni hotels in Washington, DC, Midtown Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and many more. Some resorts are excluded. You can use this customized link to book (you will have to use a personal credit card and be reimbursed) or you can book through Egencia or T100 Group using a chart string. For a full list of participating hotels, visit https://www.omnihotels.com/exclusive/northwestern-university. |
United Airlines Updates
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For all travel program related questions, contact Kathy Koestring at 847-467-0590 or kathy.koestring@northwestern.edu. |
Sustainability Highlight
With the implementation of the new transportation program, Northwestern is purchasing a new fleet of hybrid-electric buses for shuttle service use starting in Fall 2025. The hybrid shuttles use electric energy generated by bus operations and diesel fuel when additional power is needed. This dual approach reduces CO2 greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking three diesel shuttles off the road. The new buses will emit less harmful pollutants compared with their diesel predecessors and are equipped with geofencing technology that allows them to operate emissions-free in designated Zero Emission Zones, including high pedestrian traffic areas and bus depots.
Procurement Diversity Program
The next Annual Food Vendor Event will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025. This event is organized by Northwestern and our food service partner, Compass Group, for any food service-related vendor that is interested in doing or expanding subcontracting opportunities at the University. For more details, visit the Procurement Diversity Events web page.
Contact Peter Braithwaite, Director of Procurement Diversity and Community Engagement, at peter.braithwaite@northwestern.edu for any questions.
General Updates and Reminders
Purchasing Contract Process Reminders
As part of an effort to share information and improve the efficiency of procurement contracting practices, the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and PPS partnered on an initiative to clarify processes and provide resources. On the PPS Contract Process web page, you can find contract templates and contracting guidance, including the video from the October 2022 contracting training presentation.
Open Lab Sessions & PPS Listserv
Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) hosts monthly informational sessions called Open Lab Sessions in which staff members from the PPS office can answer campus user’s questions regarding Procure to Pay topics. Our next sessions will be:
- Tuesday, January 14, 2025
PPS will send a monthly reminder regarding the Open Lab sessions to the Procurement and Payment Services listserv. To sign up for the listserv, review the IT Knowledge Base web page for instructions on how to subscribe. The list ID is PROCUREMENT (or PROCUREMENT@LISTSERV.IT.NORTHWESTERN.EDU).