Dear Campus Community,

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has important updates and upcoming events to share with you.

This month's features:  

• BearBUY 26.2 Release
• New: Thorlabs punchout Catalog Available in BearBuy
• New Storeroom Open to All Labs!
• New Federal Restrictions on 1260H & Biotech Vendors
• Amazon Business Guided Buying Flags
• BearBUY Assist (Chatbot)
• Reminder: Bears that Buy Open Office Hours

If you have any abutler@berkeley.eduquestions, don't hesitate to contact the BearBUY Help Desk at 510-664-9000 (options 1, 2) or bearbuyhelp@berkeley.edu for immediate assistance.

Go Bears!

Thank you for your continued support, 

Supply Chain Management

The 26.2 upgrade release is live in BearBUY today, Monday, July 20, 2026.

Documentation of new features and changes can be found on the BearBUY New Features webpage.

The Thorlabs punchout catalog has been available in BearBUY since June 22, 2026.

Thorlabs designs and manufactures photonics components and scientific instruments that support research and development activities.

The previous Thorlabs hosted catalog has been converted to a punchout catalog to provide users with improved pricing, real-time product availability, and the most up-to-date product information.

Looking for quick, convenient access to lab supplies? The new Avantor Storeroom in Stanley Hall is officially open and ready to support all campus research labs.


In addition to stocking popular supplies, the storeroom coordinator is on-site to assist with lab equipment service requests.

The storeroom also hosts QB3-Berkeley's limited cold storage rentals, including cryofreezer and ULT freezers.

To set up a shopping account for your lab, email stanley.stockroom@avantorsciences.com, and the team will get you registered. 

On June 8, 2026, the Department of Defense (DoD) expanded its Section 1260H list of Chinese Military Companies to include Alibaba, Baidu, WuXi AppTec, Novogene, TP-Link, BYD, and Unitree. Some of these vendors are used at UC Berkeley today.  Existing vendors will not be barred or restricted by Procurement at this time as non-DOD funded research is still allowed.


Key Compliance Rules

• DoD Funding Restriction: Under current policy, federally funded research cannot use equipment or services from any 1260H-listed entities.
• BIOSECURE Act Impact: Enacted in December 2025, this law will soon prohibit all federal agencies from funding biotech equipment or services from listed companies (like WuXi and Novogene), with full implementation expected by early 2028.
• VAR Restriction: Please note that this prohibition also applies to goods and services purchased through a Value Added Reseller or Distributor. 


Your Next Steps

1. Review Your Research Funding sources and Vendors: Check if your lab uses these restricted entities.
2. Respond to Outreach: The Research Security team is actively contacting PIs with matching purchase records. Please reply promptly to help us protect your funding.
3. Plan Transitions: Begin identifying compliant alternative vendors to avoid research disruptions.  

To help streamline our purchasing process and ensure compliance with organizational guidelines, we use color-coded visual flags within our Amazon Business account. Please use this quick reference guide to understand what each indicator means before completing your order:


• 🔴 Red Flags (Prohibited): Do not purchase. Items marked with a red flag are strictly prohibited from purchasing from Amazon. The system will block these items for ordering. Examples of blocked items: UNSPSC Code 25100000 - Motor vehicles and 54000000 - Jewelry, Timepieces, and Gemstone Products.
  
• 🟠 Orange Flags (Warnings): Review before buying. These flags serve as a warning to check for specific policy or funding restrictions (such as UC policy, grant or campus specific limitations). These purchases may require additional administrative approval. Examples of warning flags include but are not limited to paper purchasing and beverages. UNSPSC Codes 50200000, 52151500 and specific manufacturer brand names.
  
• 🟢 Green Flags (Preferred): Recommended purchase. These items represent preferred purchases. The items and sellers align with our strategic goals, such as pre-approved products, contract pricing, or certified sustainable and diverse sellers.


Note: Always check for these flags on the search results and product detail pages to ensure your shopping cart is fully compliant before proceeding to checkout.

Get Answers Faster with Jaggaer Assist - Now Live in BearBUY!

Need help with BearBUY? Jaggaer Assist is now available to provide fast, reliable answers whenever you need them. Whether you're creating a requisition, troubleshooting an issue, or looking for step-by-step guidance, Assist helps you find the information you need quickly and effortlessly.

Smarter Support, Right When You Need It:

Assist is designed to understand everyday language, making it easier than ever to find answers without searching through documentation or submitting a support ticket. From how-to instructions and policy guidance to troubleshooting common issues, the help you need is only a question away.

Help Shape the Future of Jaggaer Assist:

We're committed to making BearBUY even better and your feedback is essential. After trying Assist, please complete our Google Form and let us know about your experience. Your input will help us improve the tool and ensure it continues to meet the needs of the UC Berkeley community.

Win a Tango Gift Card:

As a token of our appreciation, everyone who submits feedback through the Google Form will be entered into a raffle for a Tango Gift Card!

Experience a Faster, Smarter Way to Get Help:

Skip the searching. Get answers in seconds. Try Assist today and see how easy it is to get the support you need right inside BearBUY.

Please join us for our next remote office hour tomorrow, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.


We encourage you to submit topics of discussion and/or questions in advance using this Google form.


Representatives from the Procurement, BearBUY Solutions, Account Payable, and BRS teams will be available to answer your questions and provide information about purchasing at the University of California, Berkeley. Open Office Hours will be held on the third Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.

Instructions and Zoom URL:

• To attend office hours, you MUST first be signed in to your Berkeley Zoom account. Please see How to sign in to your UC Berkeley Zoom account.
• You don't need to register. Join the Bears that Buy Open Office Hours or enter the Meeting ID 99363039857 in the Zoom desktop client.

NOTE: There will be no Office Hours in August 2026, as SCM will be supporting incoming students during Golden Bear Orientation (GBO) and Move-In activities as they begin their campus experience.


Order Status





If you need assistance with determining the status of your order in BearBUY, visit the How to Find the Status of Your Order page on the SCM website. 

Please note that your SCM assigned Buyer will not receive the requisition until it has been approved by the department Org Node approver.

Who is My Department's Assigned Buyer?



If you are unsure of how to start your purchasing transaction, contact your Buyer for assistance by using your Org Node and Department Name to find your assigned Buyer located in this matrix.

Contracts in BearBUY





If you need help searching for a contract and applying it to your cart in BearBUY, please view the Searching for Contracts and Applying a Contract to Your Cart in BearBUY job aid.

Whether you are an experienced or a new BearBUY shopper, it is always best practice to take the BearBUY: Basics for Shoppers training if you haven't already.

To take this ESSENTIAL training, please click on this course #: BEESS950-Online.