Express Delivery Savings

Procurement Services negotiated an excellent contract with UPS, and achieved new pricing that is 10%-11% lower than last year. The new pricing went into effect last spring. While the new lower pricing helps the university reduce some costs, greater savings can be attained if units (1) use UPS as the primary supplier for express and ground delivery service, and (2) ship by ground service whenever possible. Visit the U-M UPS strategic contract page to request a new UPS U-M CampusShip account or to make changes to an existing account.

Note: UPS is the university's strategic partner for express, ground and international delivery services. Use FedEx only for shipping Class A hazardous materials and for services not provided by UPS. Units that require FedEx services must have a FedEx account obtained through the Educational & Institutional Cooperative (E&I) contract with the University of Michigan. A U-M P-Card must be used to pay FedEx invoices, including valid inbound invoices for "bill recipient."

Managed Print Services

Managed Print Services (MPS) is a new free service being piloted by Procurement Services and a U-M strategic supplier. Recent studies indicate that university units can help the environment, increase efficiency, and enjoy cost savings of up to 20-30% through simple improvements in the document management process. The MPS program is currently working with several pilot units across campus to analyze their print, copy, fax, and scanning equipment to ensure it is the right size and in the right location. At the conclusion of the pilot (likely late 2011), the program will be available to all university units. Information will be shared with units through e-mail communications, website updates, and customer forums. For questions about the Managed Print Services program, contact Tom Forest at etforest@umich.edu.

Standardization on the Purchase of Remanufactured Toner Cartridges

In 2010, as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and cost savings, the university standardized the purchase of remanufactured toner cartridges. Purchasing remanufactured toner cartridges through our strategic suppliers - Mikan Corporation and OfficeMax – supports green purchasing, supports local Michigan businesses, and saves the university over $1 million annually.

Cost Saving Programs for 2011

In the coming months, Procurement Services will implement programs for the purchase of office supplies and office equipment (printer/copier machines) through strategic contracts that will achieve further cost savings for the university. Other commodities under review include scientific supplies and computer hardware.