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Procurement Update, August 2019
  A quarterly newsletter from Cornell Procurement and Payment Services
 

If you have any suggestions, would like to see any additional content or have any cost-reduction ideas, please email us.

 
    Procurement restructures in step toward simplifying procurement processes  
   

Procurement and Payment Services recently restructured its organization in a step toward fulfilling a strategic initiative to simplify the procure-to-pay process. The three new functional areas are Campus Services, Supplier Services, and Payment Services. With these changes in place, Procurement can focus on improving customer service, increasing oversight of supplier relationships, and realizing efficiencies in its processes, ultimately bringing better procurement services and value to its customers. Read more...

 
    Procurement establishes committee to reimagine procurement  
   

Procurement and Payment Services has established a Procurement Advisory Committee to partner with campus in simplifying the procure-to-pay process. The committee supports the Division of Financial Affairs' strategic initiative to reimagine procurement, which aims to bring a better procurement experience and greater value to customers. Read more...

 
    Get travel reimbursements faster with direct deposit  
   

If you currently get your reimbursements for travel or out-of-pocket expenses from Cornell by check, consider getting reimbursed faster by enrolling in direct deposit. Stop waiting for checks and, instead, have your reimbursement electronically deposited to your checking or savings account. It's simple to sign up! Read more...

 
    Marriott, Avis and Budget offer new discounts to Cornell business travelers  
   

Cornell business travelers now get discounted hotel rates from Marriott in New York City and Ithaca and lower rental rates from Avis Car Rental and Budget Rent a Car. Cornell also has agreements with other travel vendors, offering discounted airfare and other personal travel discounts. Read more...

 
    Catering by Luna now has a catering agreement with Cornell  
   

Catering by Luna now has a catering agreement with Cornell, bringing the number of local caterers with agreements to six. You'll save time hiring caterers that have Cornell pricing agreements, because these caterers don’t need to complete a caterer contract. Read more...

 
    Learn more about e-SHOP at monthly webinars  
   

Make the most of all that e-SHOP has to offer by attending one of Procurement and Payment Services' monthly Zoom training webinars. Use this time with Procurement and Payment Services to get help with e-SHOP's features and problems you have experienced. Read more...

 
    Procurement Certification training scheduled for October  
   

The newly revamped Procurement Certification Program, scheduled to begin in October, includes five core courses and four electives. Registration will soon be available in CULearn. Read more...

 
    Several updates to the Buying Manual clarified procedures and terms  
   

In recent months, Procurement and Payment Services updated the Buying Manual to address changing procedures for credit cards and payments and clarify definitions for donations, and sponsorships.

The May 15 updates clarified the definitions for donations, gifts, and payments to students; provided guidelines for BSC cardholders around gift cards and gift certificates; updated the purchasing process for narcotics; and more. Read more...

On June 17, the credit card programs section of the manual was updated with new procedures for inactive credit cards, specifying that Credit Card Programs review card usage monthly and close cards that have not been used in the year prior. Read more...

Collaboration with the University Tax Office and University Relations resulted in changes on July 1 involving, respectively, providing a substitute W-8 form to simplify payments to foreign payees and suppliers, and clarify the differences between donations and sponsorships. Read more...

 
    W.B. Mason contract renewed with more advantages  
   

W.B. Mason, Cornell's preferred supplier for office supplies and copy paper, recently renewed their contract with more advantages for Cornell purchasers. Procurement and Payment Services renegotiated the preferred supplier agreement to include lower pricing, discounted early-payment terms, desktop delivery every weekday, and no minimum order requirements. Read more...

 
    Challenge Workforce Solutions offers discounted document destruction services  
   

Challenge Workforce Solutions (previously Challenge Industries) now offers Cornell document destruction services at a negotiated discount. Challenge staff members are trained in confidential shredding and they currently serve over 50 local companies with this service, for which they hold a NY State license. Read more...

 
Outreach Actvities
Process Improvements and Streamlining
  • Formed the Procurement Advisory Committee in April 2019 with campus community members.
  • Participated in DFA’s Lean Six Sigma process improvement initiative to streamline the disbursement voucher and procurement card processes.
  • Supporting the implementation phase of the Concur project and the travel and meal card program.
More News

Cornell Procurement and Payment Services • 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 330, Ithaca, NY 14850
t: (607) 255-3804 • e: procurement@cornell.edu • w: procurement.cornell.edu