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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.

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 Bid process. See the Preferred Vendor List for more information on all vendor contracts.

Recent Contracts Established by PPS
Recent Contracts Established by PPS
CDWG Master Agreement for Professional Services Bid issued for products related to Material, Operations and Repair (MRO) A committee was assembled representing a large portion of the material buying community. Four contracts for the categories of Plumbing, Electric and HVAC were awarded. Both Johnson Plumbing and Neuco (specialty HVAC) were re-awarded multi-year agreements. Both vendors are active in iBuyNU. Two new agreements were awarded: Connexion will replace Steiner Electric for electric supplies. Connexion is enabled in iBuyNU and ready to use for orders. Steiner has been removed. Fastenal will replace Grainger for HVAC supplies and is in the process of enablement in iBuyNU. Until Fastenal is live and ready for ordering, Grainger will remain active in iBuyNU and the community may continue to purchase from them with the current contracted pricing/terms.

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
Recent Changes Made to Contracts Established by PPS
CDWG Software VAR Extension T-Mobile NASPO Agreement Club Colors and Corporate Imaging Concepts (promotional products) in iBuyNU: Punchout catalogs for these vendors are now fully integrated and live in Northwestern’s iBuyNU Marketplace. Allows buyers across campus to seamlessly access premium branded merchandise and apparel directly through iBuyNU. Access streamlined ordering, automated approvals, and a curated selection of on-brand products. Personalized service for bulk orders and custom solutions will continue to be available by contacting the dedicated representatives on the Club Colors and Corporate Imaging Concepts Preferred Vendor pages. Mark Vend will be known as Canteen in iBuyNU and changes to the catalog are forthcoming. Current personnel and processes will remain the same. Egencia access expired on May 31, 2025. If information is needed about a past trip, please email the Travel Services department for Egencia itineraries at travel@northwestern.edu. In the request, include pertinent trip information: traveler’s name travel dates destination itinerary number Any changes or cancellations needed for upcoming travel booked through Egencia, contact the airline or hotel vendor directly.

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.

Apple transition to CDWG
Global Marketing MDAM Software RFP
Adobe Creative Cloud Extension
Provost – International Employer of Record RFP
Fuel Oil Bid - issued in July
Janitorial Supplies (underway)
Declining balance card program
Refresh of pre-qualified list of staffing providers
Shredding
Interior Signage (upcoming bid)
Office furniture (bid review phase)
Computer supplies
Parking Garage (invitation to bid)

Travel Related

Travel related updates
Travel Related Updates
Do You Have Questions About Travel & Key Travel? Please join PPS for monthly Open Labs to ask general travel related questions and anything relating to Key Travel. Find links to join on our Open Labs page: https://www.northwestern.edu/procurement/about/open-labs.html. Travel questions can also be asked during PPS’s Procure to Pay Open labs, also found on the Open Labs web page.
New Check-in Deadline for United Airlines Flights United Airlines previously allowed passengers to check-in to their flights beginning 24 hours before take-off up to 30 minutes prior. Fliers must now check-in no later than 45 minutes before their domestic flights (some international flights require earlier check-in times) or they risk having their flights cancelled. Luggage must also be checked at least 45 minutes before take-off.
United Airlines is Offering Discounts on Personal Travel for Northwestern Travelers Sign-up for United’s Break from Business program and receive 10% off personal travel booked by December 31, 2025. If you are not a United Mileage Plus member, you must join to take advantage of these savings. It is free to join. More information and instructions to join can be found on the Break from Business flyer.

Sustainability Highlight

Sustainability highlights
Carbon Offsets for Expedia Hotel Bookings Did you know that Key Travel, Northwestern's travel management partner, automatically provides carbon offsets for all Expedia hotel bookings? Travel can generate a significant carbon footprint. Carbon offsetting helps counterbalance those emissions by supporting verified environmental projects. It’s a simple way to reduce your impact while on the go. Just look for the “carbon neutral” label when browsing hotel options in the booking tool to make your next trip more sustainable.
New Shuttle Buses Arriving As announced by PPS last December, Procurement and Payment Services recently established a new comprehensive transportation program consisting of shuttles services as well as the student safe ride program. This includes transitioning to a new fleet of hybrid-electric shuttle buses. These new buses are starting to arrive, and our shuttle partner, WeDriveU, will begin using them on our intercampus and loop routes in September. Northwestern’s transition from diesel to hybrid-electric is a major step forward for sustainability on campus. Stop by the south entrance to Norris during our Business and Finance & Preferred Vendor Expo between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5 to check out one of the new buses.
Reduce & Reuse! The Northwestern Surplus Property Exchange is a free online bulletin board where University departments can list or claim gently used University property—office supplies, file cabinets, lab equipment, and more. It has many items to be able to reuse instead of buying new ones that help reduce waste and cut costs.

Small or Local Business Highlight

A few years ago, Procurement and Payment Services and a team from across the University awarded a number of Preferred Vendor contracts for Web Design. Procurement would like to take this opportunity to highlight two local web design firms located in Evanston – Glantz Design and Neiger Design. If your department or school is in the market for web design services, it’s encouraged to review the firms on the Vendor Pages and consider using local firms. The Office of Global Marketing and Communications can be contacted for questions regarding the firms and/or design services.

General Updates and Reminders

Furniture Repairs

Office chairs (and other furniture) can typically be repaired or even replaced for little to no cost if the item is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.  If you have items in need of repair (broken chair arm, wheel, seat, etc.), please reach out to the NU vendor representative to discuss options.