INDIANAPOLIS – Ivy Tech Community College has entered into multi-year agreements with ten furniture suppliers, including five minority- or woman-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), in order to save money through standardization and purchase consolidation.
The new statewide agreements will allow the college to divert money saved on consolidated furniture purchases to the hiring of faculty and staff, as well as other strategic initiatives which help ensure student success.
As part of the agreements, the college has contracted with the following companies: Binford Group, Commercial Office Environments, Continental Office Environments, d2p, Jack Laurie, Office Works, RJE Business Interiors, TLS by Design, Virco, and Business Furniture. Nine of the ten suppliers are Indiana dealers or manufacturers.
A team including representatives from eight of the college’s regions determined that these suppliers best met evaluation criteria and offered the lowest cost for furniture and related services that will meet the college’s specifications.
“Overall, this initiative could provide savings of more than 30 percent on purchases, as well as $1.5 million in savings for current major project demand compared to previous costs. Suppliers benefit greatly as well because of our long term commitment and because, as a general rule, each has the exclusive right to sell a particular category of furniture items,” said James Hudson, Chief Procurement Officer for Ivy Tech.
Ivy Tech’s total savings and revenue enhancement initiatives implemented over the last three fiscal years has resulted in $24 million in total annual savings and $14.2 million in total one time savings to the college. These savings greatly exceeds the College’s goal of saving $10 million by 2010, a goal that was set in 2007.
Standardization and purchase consolidation efforts continue to develop as part of the College’s Accelerating Greatness strategic planning efforts which will result in the College seeking to hire additional faculty and staff to assist in ensuring the success of its students.
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 150,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
