In 2016, the SOP group crafted an agreement that computer purchases should be completed quarterly in bulk, with all the colleges and ITS making a purchase collaboratively. The computer purchase standards on campus are to be determined by the colleges and purchasing to be done in mass to drive down the cost of new computer purchases. The bulk purchases does not affect incidental or emergency purchases. During the first SOP Bulk purchase, the campus collaborative purchase of 229 new computers, saving the university $35,000. The Quarterly Purchase SOP demonstrates the per-machine savings and the power of collaboration and standardization.
Computers purchased through the SOP group were faster, better and cost significantly less. The following flow chart outlines the agreed upon procedure and timeline.
