Compliance with state procurement rules has made utilizing awards like IPHEC2140 – IT Recruiting & Professional Services challenging due to the number of vendors available in the pre-qualified pool. The University of Illinois System is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of our operations, including our purchasing practices. IPHEC2140 was solicited as a Sheltered Market Request for Proposal for Information Technology “IT” Recruiting & Professional Services. The intention behind this award was to facilitate opportunities for BEP-certified suppliers within our institutions. Hearing our challenges, the Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative (IPHEC) has partnered with Unimarket (formerly VendorPanel) to standardize the process for using these large awards that will streamline the process and save a requesting department time.
Through this application, users will be able to quickly find awarded suppliers, develop and send quote requests, receive responses in an environment that maintains organization, and review and select the vendor who provided the best value. Once the process is complete, users will be able to download a full PDF summary. The summary would be one of the supporting documents included in the Internal Attachments & Notes section of your iBuy requisition. In addition to the PDF summary, the requesting department will need to provide the best value determination (explain why the vendor was selected). This could be included as a separate attachment or added in the internal notes field of the requisition.
If a department has attempted to use IPHEC2140 in the past and found it challenging, we are asking you to give the award another chance by using this new application. Using this award will assist the University of Illinois System in meeting its BEP goals.
In addition to the IPHEC2140 award, IPHEC has also worked with Unimarket to upload eleven awards that are currently available.
- IPHEC1905 – Furniture, Accessories, Install & Services
- IPHEC2009 – Legal Services
- IPHEC2011 – Computer Components, Networking, Supplies & Services
- IPHEC2102 – Executive Service Firms
- IPHEC2125 – Preferred Advertising Solutions
- IPHEC2140 – IT Recruiting & Professional Services
- IPHEC2201 – Creative Services for Marketing & Promotion
- IPHEC2215 – Promotional Products
- IPHEC2315 – Business Consulting & Advisory Services
- IPHEC2418 – Flooring Materials w/ Related Supplies & Services
- RM071017 – Software & Software Related Services
If you have a purchasing request that falls under one of these solicitations, please reach out to your university’s Purchasing and Contract Management Office or System Purchasing and Support Services (for System Offices). Your purchasing office will determine whether to provide your unit access to the Unimarket application, if the purchasing office will assist in the use of the Unimarket tool, or utilize another option to obtain quotes for your project. If access is provided to a user, they will have the opportunity to view a series of training videos. The application is streamlined to maximize the university’s ability to utilize these awards.
Contact
For questions, please contact the appropriate office for your location.
UIUC Purchasing & Contract Management Office (Chart 1)
Phone: 217-333-3505
Email: urbanapurchasing@uillinois.edu
UIC Purchasing & Contract Management
Phone: 312-996-2850
Email: uicpurchasing@uillinois.edu
UIS Purchasing & Contract Management Office (Chart 4)
Phone: 217-206-6651
Email: uispurchasing@uillinois.edu
System Purchasing and Support Services
Phone: 217-333-9BUY (9289)
Email: Procurement@uillinois.edu
