Updated September 9, 2021
FRMS and Point Plus Now Allow Direct Delivery to Campus
Procurement and Payment Services (PPS), working in collaboration with Campus Distribution Services (CDS) to ensure delivery of packages to campus, has updated delivery options.
Delivery options in both UT Market and Point Plus have been updated to allow delivery to CDS or to your campus location. With the ability to schedule package delivery directly to campus locations, please be mindful that you must have someone physically available to accept and receive packages from both CDS and commercial carriers. Neither CDS nor commercial carriers can accommodate special requests for day and time of deliveries. Neither CDS nor commercial carriers are able to leave packages at alternate locations. Packages will be returned to sender if contact is not made at the identified ship-to location at time of delivery.
Hazardous materials should also be shipped directly to recipients at their campus location. NHB 1.512 will no longer serve as a centralized receiving point. CDS will refuse hazardous materials, except packages containing dry ice or ethanol/ethyl alcohol. All radioactive materials must be shipped to Environmental Health and Safety.
The PPS and CDS teams remain ready and able to support your sourcing needs. As staff continue to work remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please forward questions regarding delivery policies to purchasing@austin.utexas.edu
Updated September 3, 2020
Sourcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your departmental needs
In anticipation of the Fall semester and students, faculty and staff returning to campus, the Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) team worked diligently to develop a tool to request COVID-19 related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs across campus. The survey tool, designed to facilitate requests for both immediate and recurring needs, remains active and available as a resource to secure PPE items through the course of the semester.
New Hazardous Material Delivery Options
As more campus buildings are currently open or preparing to reopen for the fall semester, Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) has made changes to the hazardous material delivery policy, which was updated earlier this year.
New Delivery Option
In addition to shipping hazardous materials to NHB, you also have the option to ship these packages directly to your building. Your building must be open or have a delivery contact process for delivery drivers available at the delivery location. We encourage each college, school and unit (CSU) to take advantage of this direct delivery method.
Campus Distribution Services
In regards to non-hazardous packages, Campus Distribution Services (CDS) remains open to ensure your essential purchase can be received and delivered to your specific location by UT staff.
The CDS shipping address at 2706 Montopolis Drive cannot be used for hazardous materials, except for packages containing dry ice or ethanol/ethyl alcohol. If your order contains radioactive materials, it must be shipped to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
Please refer to the Procurement and Payment Services Coronavirus Status page for additional information and resources.
Finally, please know the PPS team remains ready and able to support your sourcing needs. Given the team is working remotely, we ask that you forward all questions via email at purchasing@austin.utexas.edu. Staff is monitoring incoming requests and will provide a timely response.
Updated May 7, 2020
Expenditure Review Process Guidance for Vice Presidents in Response to COVID-19 (PDF version) < RETIRED
Effective immediately, non-salary expenditure transactions, including those related to currently approved contracts, new procurements, or any new contracted commitments, with a total value of $100,000 or more will require prior approval from the Senior Vice President and CFO.
Updated March 30th, 2020
In response to the City of Austin’s "Stay Home – Work Safe" order that took effect at midnight March 25, additional enhancements to Point Plus have been completed specific to “ship to” requirements. These changes were made to support CSUs and help ensure that final delivery of essential purchases can be made in light of all campus buildings being locked and onsite staff being reduced further.
As many of you may know, during the past two weeks while most areas moved to working remotely and buildings were locked down, delivery companies began holding packages. In response to this break in our supply chain, a concentrated effort was made between Campus Distribution Services (CDS) and delivery companies. Since then, all pending non-hazardous packages have been made to CDS over the past days and deliveries continue to come in daily.
Since conditions have escalated, additional measures are required to ensure purchase orders include a delivery "ship to" address that can be fulfilled.
Completed Point Plus enhancements include logic and improved messaging to ensure the selected “ship to” address includes “Campus Distribution Services.” As we move forward, it is essential that orders be shipped to a central location that is open and able to secure your critical deliveries.
CDS remains open and will ensure your essential purchase can be received and will then be delivered to your specific location by UT staff.
The following exceptions have been allowed:
- The following Purchasing Centers can continue to deliver to their specific locations:
- U-812 BFS Central Store
- U-385 DMS UT Health Austin
- U-389 DMS UTHA ASC
- U-390 Messing Lab
- U-870 UT Dell Medical School
- U-881 UT Dell Medical School
- U-442 Dell Pediatric Research Institute
- U-447 Dell Pediatric Research Institute
- U-230 DPI Maintenance
- U-022, U-023, U-201, U-204 Applied Research Labs
- All locations with a non-Austin address
- Additionally, certain items are exempt from being delivered to CDS, including services, large furniture, and intangible items.
Please refer to the Procurement Office Procurement and Payment Services Coronavirus Status page for additional information and resources.
Finally, please know the Procurement team remains ready and able to support your sourcing needs. Given the team is working remotely, we ask that you forward all questions via email. Staff is monitoring incoming requests and will provide a timely response.
Updated March 24th, 2020
Please note that as the University continues to navigate COVID-19 and we continue a practice of increased online and remote operations in support of the organization, we are asking for your consideration and help with the following procurement and delivery related items.
In particular, given we have significantly reduced our campus presence and buildings are locked, we ask that you ensure only critical items that are essential for ongoing operations are being considered and sourced.
Essential items that are required, should be shipped to Campus Distribution Services (CDS). This will help ensure your purchase can be received on campus timely and will then be delivered to your specific location on CDS staff.
Working together, we can ensure resources are focused on meeting the essential procurement and delivery needs of the organization.
- Efforts should be taken to ensure all purchases, regardless of method, are for essential items
- Small purchases (below $15K) should be for immediately required items in support of mission critical functions
- ProCard purchases should be managed to ensure property is tracked and tagged as necessary (monitors, external drives, scanners, printers)
- Office supplies for remote operations should be managed prudently to ensure only mission critical functions are being addressed
- Considering buildings are locked and have limited staffing, all deliveries should be shipped to CDS, they are open and able to receive your packages and coordinate final delivery
- CDS has been working with FedEx, UPS and DHL to help expedite outstanding deliveries of non-hazardous chemicals to their location in support of CSUs
Hazardous chemicals must be shipped to NHB at 100 East 24th street, room 1.512. Austin, TX 78712(this does not apply to bulk chemical orders)- Consider ancillary services you receive (water bottles, coffee/vending, etc.) that may not be immediately required so they can be postponed