Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that an effort is underway to improve the University of Illinois System’s contract request, creation and management system. In November of 2021, Contracts+ will begin replacing iCS and contract approval routing forms (CARF’s) for select units. After implementation is complete, Contracts+ will serve as a single repository for all University of Illinois contracts. Contracts+ is a robust contracting system that is on the same platform and provided by the same vendor as our iBuy eProcurement system.
In partnership with AITS and under guidance from Purchasing and Contract Management/System Purchasing (PCM), the evaluating units and a Customer Advisory Group (CAG) have been instrumental in determining the initial design and configuration of the software solution to improve the experience for users across the University of Illinois System. A small number of units from each university and system offices will be testing and evaluating the new system:
- · UIUC: Extension Office, Technology Service
- · UIC: Campus Auxiliary Services, Athletics
- · UIS: Athletics, Information Technology, Performing Arts Services
- · System: AITS, CARLI, University Press
A project team has been working with the vendor to configure, test and validate the new system over the last several months. The team is now completing validation of the system’s initial configuration and preparing to pilot it this summer. This will be followed by a roll-out plan currently under development, with a deployment date set to begin on November 1, 2021, for current iCS users. All other users who process contracts outside of iCS will have a deployment date set for early 2022.
The Source-to-Pay (S2P) Program Team along with a team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), PCMs and Change Management professionals will keep you updated on the progress of this project and its timelines. This team is dedicated to continuous improvement during and after implementation. Keeping you well-informed is a vital part of that commitment.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this initiative, please feel free to reach out to the members of the project management or change management teams: Keri Canaday (kcanaday@uillinois.edu) or Filip Przybysz (filip87@uillinois.edu).
Best,
Brenda Hixson
S2P Program Director
Bradley Henson
Director, UIUC Purchasing and Contract Management
Debra Matlock
Executive Director, UIC Purchasing and Contract Management
Jill Menezes
Director, UIS Purchasing and Contract Management
Daniel Szajna
Director, System Purchasing & Support Services