Brown University Purchasing Department
The Role of the Purchasing Department as a University Community Resource
- The primary mission of the Purchasing Department is to coordinate, and administer the University’s purchasing process. The department’s strategic goal is to develop vendor alliances/programs that drive economic benefit, ensure consistency of quality, provide high level service support, facilitate order entry/payment processes, and provide “added value”. In developing these alliance programs, “key” internal users will be invited to participate in ad hoc committees formed to develop program specifications.
- Periodic business review meetings will be conducted with all “alliance vendors”. Data subject to review will include; but not be limited to, overall contract compliance, on time deliveries, fill rates, invoice variances, response time to inquiries, overall customer satisfaction.
- The Purchasing Department shall serve as an advisor to University departments regarding supplier pre-qualification, market conditions, alternative sources, and as a mediator in resolving performance disputes.
- Provide a high level of customer service to the entire Brown Community
- Insure that Brown's policies and procedures are followed
- Provide direction and training to departments
- Reduce costs
- Look for new opportunities with existing or new vendors to provide quality products and services at fair prices
- Engage our vendors as resources; many times there are more service available at nominal or no cost, (e.g., the IRIMS program from Fisher).