Same Business Partners - New Value Added Office Products Contract

Friday, February 29, 2008

The University's New Sole Source Office Products Contract Supplier

In late March 2008, BEN Buys users will notice a change in the Penn Marketplace when attempting to order office products from Office Depot. The Office Depot logo will be replaced by a Telrose Corporation logo in the Penn Marketplace.

Purchasing Services is pleased to announce a new Tier 1 diversity supplier partnership between Telrose Corporation, a West Philadelphia based diversity supplier, and Office Depot. This new contract, a restructuring of the existing contract, is the result of a collaborative buying initiative with Drexel University and a number of other members of the Philadelphia Area Collegiate Cooperative (PACC). Purchasing Services utilized its Diversity Supplier Development partnership with the Pennsylvania Minority Business Center (PA MBEC) to facilitate the creation of this new business relationship.

This new contract will provide enhanced customer service and support to the Penn community, an opportunity for lower prices for products available through the contract, and enable Purchasing Services to increase its commitment to the local business community while maintaining a strategic alliance with Office Depot.

What's New?

BEN Buys users will notice a number of changes resulting from this new contract:

• An additional 3% discount on all orders with a total dollar value greater than $200
• All purchase orders will be issued to Telrose Corporation
• Additional customer service and support personnel
• Certified diversity supplier for office products for research contract requirements

What Remains the Same?

This new contract will not impact normal business operations:

• On-campus contracts support personnel
• Same delivery personnel servicing the Penn community
• Next day delivery for all orders placed before 3:00PM
• Same online ordering capabilities
• Continuation of "Lunch & Learn" sessions and Penn specific product promotions

Additional information regarding this new contract including updated supplier contact information will be distributed prior to the launch of the contract in late March 2008. In the meantime, please direct all questions regarding this new agreement to Tywanna Wilson-Carter at Telrose Corporation.