Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Strategic Procurement

  • By Gary D. Link
  • 02/01/18

The benefits of a strategic procurement operation can be significant and far-reaching. Here are some tips to consider when attempting to become more strategic.

Align the goals of your strategic sourcing and procurement function with the institution goals. This is one of the most important things to consider.

Ensure you have a solid Spend Analytics program in place. Understanding, analyzing, and managing your institutional spend is a key component to success.

Develop a strategic sourcing plan. Use your spend data to develop a strategic sourcing plan that determines where you’re going to get the biggest ROI.

Establish the right competitive solicitation thresholds. If these thresholds, contract terms, and limits are too low, it restricts the ability of a procurement function to be truly strategic.

Make sure you have an effective e-procurement system or solution. This can significantly improve process efficiencies.

Leverage cooperative contracts and other group purchasing opportunities. Cooperative and/or group purchasing contracts provide significant time savings and financial incentives.

Continue to utilize emerging tools, such as reverse auctions. Reverse auctions bring transparency, savings, and speed to the bidding process, while ensuring that you receive the best value available.

Review and manage your payment services and processes. An e-payables solution is critical to the success of any procure-to-pay organization process.

Monitor your contract utilization and compliance. You may have great contracts in place, but if there is too much maverick spend and people are not using those contracts, or if your suppliers are not complying with those contracts, then you’re leaving money on the table.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management February 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Gary D. Link, C.P.M., is senior vice president of E&I Consulting Group & Contracts. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.