Newsletter January 2024 https://procurement.tennessee.edu/

Purchasing Agreements

Did you know that we have hundreds of purchasing agreements that can be used by any department?

To view these agreements, click on the button below and log in with your net ID and password. You can search the list by vendor, category, or keyword.

Purchasing Agreements

New Agreements Announcement

Are you looking for a place to hold an event?

We recently did a bid for local event space and awarded to the following venues. These contracts can be found on our purchasing agreements website.

Spaces in the City
Zoo Knoxville
Rothchild
Jackson Terminal (now part of Spaces in the City)
Regas Square Events

Staff Spotlight

Abbie Shellist, Director of Procurement Services

I began my career in higher education publishing and I've been involved in higher ed in one capacity or another ever since. 2024 marks my 19th year at UT and my 12th in Procurement Services.

I feel a deep sense of purpose knowing that the work my team does helps further the University's mission by providing support to faculty and staff who help to educate thousands of students each year.

My favorite part of the job is getting to work with amazing people across the UT system.

In my spare time, I'm mom to Langston and Avery, I like to do Pilates, read, listen to true crime podcasts, and care for my menagerie which includes dogs, cats, snakes, and a frog.

RF... what?

Procurement language is chock full of acronyms. You may have heard of an RFP, RFQ, or RFQ-S, but what do these actually mean? These are acronyms for the types of solicitations (bids) that our office conducts. Click on the link below for more information. Stay tuned next month to learn about the timelines associated with these different types of bids.

Types of Bids

Karen's Corner: A Closer Look at UT Supplier Diversity

by Karen Binkley, Small Business Liaison

As the Small Business Liaison for UT Procurement Services, it is my privilege to coordinate UT's supplier diversity efforts. Each month, I will share a quick tip, shout out, or resource. Then, I will challenge you to take action. This month, I have combined a resource and challenge in the quiz below.

January Supplier Diversity Challenge

Read the statement below and select true or false to learn more.

The UT Market Place contains products supplied by small and diverse vendors.

TRUE

FALSE

Contract Entry Checklist

We now have a checklist that can be used by departments who enter contracts. This handy tool will help make sure your contract sails smoothly through the review process. Click below to access the checklist from the procurement website.

Contract Entry Checklist