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Strategic Sourcing

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Our Mission

Santa Clara University’s Strategic Sourcing program is designed to create long-term value for the University by leveraging our collective purchasing power, fostering strong supplier partnerships, and ensuring alignment with SCU’s mission and values. Through collaboration with campus stakeholders, we seek to balance cost savings, service quality, supplier diversity, and sustainability in every sourcing decision.

 

What is Strategic Sourcing?

Strategic Sourcing is a proactive, data-driven approach to procurement that goes beyond price. It ensures that University resources are spent responsibly by considering:

  • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Not just purchase price, but lifecycle costs, maintenance, and disposal.
  • Supplier Performance: Quality, reliability, service levels, and innovation.
  • Risk Management: Financial stability, compliance, and business continuity.
  • University Priorities: Diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
  • eProcurement: Streamline the procurement process whenever possible by leveraging Workday Punchout suppliers in which we benefit from preferred/contract pricing.

 

Strategic Sourcing Flow

 

Our 7-Step Sourcing Process

  1. Initiate – Define project scope, team formation, align with stakeholders, and establish goals.
  2. Collect Data – Analyze spend, usage, budgets, and current contracts.
  3. Market Analysis – Research suppliers, industry trends, and risks.
  4. Develop Strategy – Identify sourcing approach, evaluation criteria, and success measures.
  5. Execute RFx – Issue RFI/RFP/RFQ ensuring transparency and fairness.
  6. Negotiate & Award – Evaluate proposals, negotiate value, and select best-fit supplier.
  7. Implement & Manage – Onboard vendor, monitor KPIs, and conduct performance reviews.
  8. Supplier Relationship Management - Maintain a respectful and productive supplier relationship by evaluating performance, scheduling review meetings, and ensuring that the relationship aligns with department and broader SCU goals.

Our goal is to achieve win-win outcomes that benefit both SCU and our supplier community.

 

How Strategic Sourcing Benefits SCU

  • Cost Savings & Value Creation – Consolidating contracts, reducing redundant spend, and negotiating better terms.
  • Supplier Diversity – Promoting opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned, and local businesses.
  • Sustainability – Partnering with suppliers who share SCU’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
  • Risk Mitigation – Ensuring stable, compliant, and reliable supply sources.
  • Innovation & Service – Encouraging suppliers to bring forward new ideas, technologies, and solutions.

 

Who Makes Up Strategic Sourcing?

Short Answer: All of us! It takes many in the SCU community to support strategic sourcing efforts

  • SCU Procurement Office
  • Department purchasers and end users
  • Faculty/Staff/Administrators
  • Suppliers

 

Get Involved

Strategic Sourcing is a collaborative process. Faculty, staff, and administrators are encouraged to partner with the Procurement Office early in the purchasing cycle.

📧 Contact Us: purchasing@scu.edu 
📍 Procurement Services, Loyola Hall

 

Resources

  • Policies and Guidelines
  • [Supplier Diversity Program] Coming Soon
  • [RFP Templates & Guidelines] Coming Soon
  • [FAQ: Working with Procurement] Coming Soon