Save the date—July Buying Blue CoP webinar | | |
Save the date for the upcoming Buying Blue Community of Practice! The next virtual webinar is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m.
The invitation email will be sent later this week, but the registration link is available now. Please email the Buying Blue Planning Committee if you have any questions or would like to be added to the invitation list.
| | Expect delivery delays during Ann Arbor Art Fair | | |
The U-M community is encouraged to anticipate delivery delays during the Ann Arbor Art Fair taking place July 17-19. The event significantly increases local traffic and city visitor volumes, which can impact the receipt of goods on Central Campus.
Click here for key dates and suggestions to minimize delivery disruptions.
| | Supplier Spotlight: Nichols Paper now Imperial Dade | | |
Nichols Paper, a University-Wide supplier, has been purchased by Imperial Dade. The Marketsite+ catalog now reflects the new name and logo. There are no changes to the catalog’s functionality, and item ID information will remain the same. Refer to this overview for a summary of impacts and screenshots.
Order sheets (favorites) may not transfer from one website to the other. To avoid losing your lists, take screenshots or print them in advance.
Please see the Imperial Dade supplier webpage for additional information.
| | Marketsite+ search functions updated in latest release | | |
Marketsite+ will be updated on July 14 to reflect the JAGGAER 25.2 update release. Key enhancements include:
- Refreshed Contract Search interface
- New option for browsing shopping catalogs
Click here for a summary with screenshots. For any technical issues or questions, please submit a ticket.
| | New Procurement Office Hours format launches in July | | |
Based on customer feedback, Procurement Services is piloting a new format for monthly Office Hours to help attendees better understand our systems and processes. Each session will now begin with a brief training on a specific topic, followed by an open Q&A portion.
Please take a moment to fill out a quick RSVP form. An RSVP is not required to attend, but it does assist planning efforts.
Upcoming sessions and topics:
Use this Zoom link (https://umich.zoom.us/j/91907387773) for all sessions.
Additional session dates will be published on the Buying Blue Calendar.
| | Follow PO Center tips to expedite sourcing and contract requests | | |
Purchasing at U-M can be seamless and efficient when you use the right tools and follow best practices. The PO Center offers the following tips—along with key resources—to ensure your requests are processed smoothly and without delay.
Contracts under $50,000 still need review
Procurement Services must review and sign any contract below $50,000, as units do not have signature authority on behalf of the university.
Click here for additional resources and tips on how to:
- Submit complete forms in Marketsite+
- Attach supporting documentation
- Use the Marketsite+ Communication Center
- Utilize PCard and Amazon resources
| | Sole Source Justification form revised for ease and clarity | | |
The Sole Source Justification (SSJ) form has recently been updated to streamline the submission and review process. The form changes include:
Format Change—The PDF version will be archived due to excessive font shrinkage for lengthy responses. The new Word version is fillable—no font size adjustments—and protected to prevent accidental editing.
Threshold Clarity—The requirement to use the form for purchases of $50,000 or more has been clarified and consistently referenced throughout the form.
Award Notice—Grant customers are now reminded to attach the Award Notice when submitting the form. This step will help expedite the procurement review for grant-related purchases.
This Knowledge Base Article has been updated to reflect these changes.
| | Buyer's Corner: Restricted Commodities & Special Approvals | | |
Before initiating a purchase, it's essential to understand whether the item or service falls under the university’s Restricted Commodity and Special Approvals Table, a key reference that lists goods and services requiring:
- Special review or prior approval
- Oversight by specific university offices
- Defined purchasing methods
Examples of restricted items include:
- Conflict of Interest transactions
- IT and software impacting data privacy
- Legal, insurance, or investment services
Click here for more examples, questions to ask, and other helpful resources.
| | Travel and Business Hosting SPG updated to reflect CTP requirement and reimbursement changes | | |
U-M’s Travel and Business Expense Hosting SPG was updated with changes that went into effect on July 1.
Policy changes include:
- Extended reimbursement submission deadline from 45 to 60 days
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses now occurs after the trip/event
- Requirement for airfare booking
Click here for more details and links to helpful resources.
| | Simplify business expenses with a PCard or Travel Card | | |
The University of Michigan offers two convenient payment solutions for employees who make departmental purchases or submit business expense reimbursements for hosting, supplies, or travel. The PCard streamlines departmental purchasing and eliminates the hassle of reimbursements, while the Travel Card is specifically tailored for employees who travel for work but do not make department-related purchases.
Benefits of the PCard or Travel Card include:
- No need to use personal funds or credit cards or seek reimbursement for U-M business expenses
-
Secure payments with tracking and support from JP Morgan Chase for unauthorized charges
Click here for additional benefits and information on applying for a card.
| | Emburse Enterprise enhancements boost approvers’ system capabilities | | |
The Emburse Enterprise PDF functionality has been updated based on feedback from focus group sessions with approvers held in March. Notable changes include:
General updates:
-
Added Report Approvers
-
Standardized Business Purpose List, Department Reference, and Merchant
-
Removed Cardholder Name, Transaction Type, Transaction ID, LastfourCC, and Merchant City/State/Country
Additionally, Procurement Services has granted access to Emburse Enterprise’s Expense Management tool for approvers who meet certain criteria. Read more about accessing and using this tool here.
| | Office hours, demos, and training in July & August | | |
Procurement Services offers a variety of office hours, demos, and training sessions for the university community. These sessions appear on the Buying Blue Calendar.
Travel booking sessions
Emburse Enterprise sessions
| | Want to stay up-to-date on Procurement Services? | | |
Don’t forget to join the #Procurement-Services channel on Slack! This channel shares a variety of content including new contracts, highlights of existing contracts, tips and tricks, employee spotlights, and upcoming Procurement Services events. If you haven’t heard of Slack, we encourage you to check it out! Creating an account is easy and we hope to see you on Slack soon!
| | |
My LINC Us
We enjoy hearing from you! For feedback, comments, questions, or concerns, please contact us at (734) 764-8212, option 2, or procurement.services@umich.edu.
| | |
Subscribe
It’s easy to subscribe to the Procurement Services News! Just visit the sign up form, enter your information, and click Sign Up.
|
| | | |
