Purchasing
The Purchasing Department facilitates the procurement of goods and services for the Wellesley College community at pricing and quality that meets or exceeds the end user's expectations. We hope to create an environment where Wellesley College Departments would employ the most effective and innovative methods for procuring quality goods and services. Our responsibilities include providing the Wellesley College with policies that foster an ethical, responsive and efficient environment and recognizing the department's obligations to our suppliers and our internal customers. The Wellesley College Purchasing Department is committed to the highest standards of service and continuously strives for improvement in all these areas.
Doing Business with Wellesley College
Wellesley College is always in need of competitively priced quality products and services. Purchasing is committed to providing our College suppliers with the tools and information needed to be our business partner. Interested in partnering with the College? We are always seeking talented and competitive product and service providers. For more information, please scroll to the Interested Supplier section of this page. While your interest does not guarantee you will become an Wellesley College supplier, it will allow us to better understand your capabilities, products, and services for future procurement opportunities.
Standard Payment Terms
Payment terms for all vendors are net 30 days. Any exceptions must be approved in advance by the Controller. Wellesley College is a tax exempt institution.
Interested Suppliers
Wellesley College is always seeking talented and competitive product and service providers who can fulfill the College’s needs. For this reason, the College maintains a database of interested suppliers if a need arises for products or services. Please download, complete and email a Prospective Vendor Form (PDF) to suppliers@wellesley.edu. While this database does not guarantee Wellesley College will purchase products or services from you, should a need for your products or services arise, you will be contacted to complete a more in-depth survey as a part of the supplier registration process.
Socially and Environmentally Responsible Business Program
As a world-class institution with wide-ranging supply needs, Wellesley College recognizes the value that our suppliers provide to the Wellesley community. Our goal is to create strategic relationships with a variety of suppliers who can provide superior service at the lowest total costs to the various academic and administrative branches of the College. Wellesley College encourages competition for College business among small businesses and firms with diverse ownership to enable our supply base to reflect the face of our student body, staff, faculty, and communities. This commitment reinforces the research and educational objectives of the College, creates opportunities for diverse growth, and strengthens our community. By registering with Wellesley College as an interested supplier, you will enable Wellesley to capture your interests and allow us to identify you as a potential supplier for future purchases. Wellesley College has an institution wide commitment to sustainability as demonstrated by our Strategic Sustainability Plan, 2016-2026 which was approved by our Board of Trustees in April 2016. The plan has multiple priorities and goals, one of the primary goals is to foster reductions in purchasing and waste generation by encouraging reuse and setting specific goals for the purchase of environmentally preferable products in high volume categories (paper, toner, and computers) preference to purchase recycled content office paper. Furthermore, we promote the purchase of products with the highest percentage of recycled content available, provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance standards. We encourage the purchase of products which are manufactured with more environmentally-friendly materials or which are produced with minimal impact to the environment. We encourage the Wellesley Community to purchase materials that are:
- Durable, as opposed to single use or disposable
- Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable (green cleaning products)
- Highly energy-efficient (ENERGY STAR or EPEAT registered products)
- Recyclable or safely disposable
- Made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
- Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner
- The cause of minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
- Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and/or recyclable materials
- Purchase copy paper with at least 30 percent recycled content
When applicable, Wellesley College will include a clause in its RFP specifications that reads: "Wellesley College committed to buying products with recycled content or environmentally sustainable alternatives. Please offer any alternatives that you feel are available for this product and supply all relevant specific information about the product."
Equal Opportunity
Wellesley College expects all vendors to have Equal Opportunity policies consistent with federal law. Vendors must not discriminate in their employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. In addition, Wellesley College will not condone or tolerate any form of sexual harassment, either in internal employee relationships or with Wellesley College employees and students.
Terms and Conditions
Suppliers: Learn more about our terms and conditions (PDF)
Insurance Requirements for Vendors
Minimum insurance standards shall apply to all vendors who will be on the campus of Wellesley College while providing, selling or distributing products and services and, in particular, those whose work is of a physical nature. Exceptions to these requirements may be made under limited or unique circumstances.