The Dell punchout has been taken down temporarily due to some Dell configuration issue. We are asking Requesters should reach out to the Dell representative, Bobby Powell, at r.powell@dell.com for quotes. Then enter the manual quote in a requisition into HuskyBuy. Thank you all for your continued patience.
On-Call Professional Services Program
If you’re interested in becoming a part of UConn’s On-Call Professional Services Program, please join us to learn more about the program and the requirements for prequalification.
October 8th and 13th
Select this link for more information: Pre-Proposal Event Flyer
FY26 Year-End Deadlines
The annual notice of the financial year-end deadlines for contracts, commitments, expenditures, and other transactions is available at the following link: Fiscal Year-End Deadlines June 30, 2026. Adherence to these deadlines is critical to support an orderly year‑end close and the subsequent audit of the University’s financial statements.
Finance and Procurement staff remain committed to supporting University departments throughout the year‑end close. All transactions will continue to be processed in compliance with Federal, State, and University requirements in support of operational, educational, and research activities.
For more information, contact: Margaret McCarthy, AVP of Financial Operations and Controller, University of Connecticut at margaret.mccarthy@uconn.edu.
Helium Shortage – Airgas implements Force Majeure
Airgas, has declared a force majeure on helium shipments due to production suspensions resulting from the Iran war. Healthcare and other industries will be prioritized. Procurement is meeting w/Airgas this coming week to understand the allocations we will face under the force majeure. All helium orders will be reviewed by Airgas before processing to ensure our allocation will meet the demand. Reach out to Procurement’s Research Team for more information (https://procurement.uconn.edu/ubs-staff-directory-2/#staffpurc).
New Campus-wide Print Solution
The University is implementing a campus-wide print solution to improve the simplicity and security of print release functionality.
As part of this initiative, UConn is working toward a standardized fleet of print equipment. This will allow for more consistent and efficient support and help reduce long-term costs for departments by centralizing purchasing and maintenance.
Submit a printer purchase request: s.uconn.edu/newprinterrequest
For more information about UConn’s UPrint program: kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/26928676873/UPrint
FY27 Blanket Orders and Requisitions
HuskyBuy, on February 9 will be ready for submission of new requisitions and blanket PO requests for FY27. These orders will be released on the last day of the Fiscal Year, Tuesday, 6/30. For Blanket Orders you can create a new requisition by navigating to the HuskyBuy shopping home page and select the Non-Catalog Blanket Order form.
Please be cognizant of lead times for the procurement of various goods and services. Software and cloud services renewals typically require IT Security review and may contain terms and conditions that will take the University some time to negotiate with the Supplier. We highly recommend these renewals be quoted and submitted ASAP.
Please also be aware, it is important to decide upfront if you will need quantity or non-quantity, specifically in regard to invoicing. If you know ahead of time you will have multiple invoices to pay against your PO, you should make sure to setup your PO as one of the following:
- Blanket Order (All Blanket Orders are considered non-quantity by default)
- Non Quantity
- Quantity order with enough quantities listed to cover the number of invoices posted and funds to cover the costs
- When in doubt about having multiple invoices make sure to use non-quantity
Reminder:
- A reminder regarding this process will be sent in March and will include any new updates, such as other end of year 2026 fiscal deadlines that may impact procurement activities
Important Resources:
HuskyBuy Contracts+
We’re excited to announce that Contracts+ is now available for use. Contracts+ is a dramatically improved contracting module which will improve operational efficiency within the Procurement department and provide much greater contract visibility to the University community.
What’s New for You:
- Real-time contract status visibility: University stakeholders can now view the status of contract requests that are in process and all active contracts
- Enhanced search features and reporting tools: University stakeholders can use Contracts+ to help manage their procurement needs by leveraging the use of active vendors and existing contracts. This will save money by better leveraging university spend and save time by avoiding duplicative work
- Automated reminders of key actions needed: University stakeholders can now receive automatic reminders of key contract actions required (e.g., notification of the upcoming expiration of a contract, insurance document renewals required, etc.)
Annual Prequalification for General Contractors
General Contractors interested in working with the University are invited to check out our current prequalification solicitation (APGC2025) for projects valued over $1 Million. Information about this solicitation can be found at https://cpfp.procurement.uconn.edu/construction-current-opportunities-2020-2/. A pre-proposal meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 10:00AM via Microsoft Teams. Access to the meeting can be requested by emailing the procurement agent directly.
HR Workflow Approval for Temporary Employment
To ensure proper oversight and compliance with University policies, state regulations, and collective bargaining agreements, Human Resources will now be involved in the approval process for HuskyBuy transactions (including requisitions and purchase orders) with temporary staffing agencies. This collaboration will ensure that temporary staffing agencies are utilized appropriately and is being implemented to mitigate risk. For further information, please contact the HR Workforce Solutions team at workforce@uconn.edu.
Important Update General Letter 71 Sourcing Exemptions End 7/1/25
As shared in our FY26 orders announcement in March, the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services has confirmed that General Letter 71 will be substantially revised, and its sourcing exemptions will no longer apply as of July 1.
Previously, General Letter 71 allowed state agencies—including the University—to bypass competitive bidding for certain purchases, such as software renewals and hotel/event venues. These exemptions enabled Procurement to assist departments in acquiring specific goods and services more quickly.
Effective July 1, 2025:
- General Letter 71 will no longer be a valid sourcing option.
- It will be removed from all HuskyBuy forms.
- Departments must follow standard sourcing guidelines and thresholds for all purchases.
- Please see announcement where the bid thresholds were increased on 10/1/2023, as these general increases should help mitigate some concerns. Additionally, please refer to our Introduction to Purchasing guide for further information on sourcing practices.
Procurement is working on new policies to help streamline certain purchases. In the meantime, departments are encouraged to:
- Review current sourcing requirements.
- Contact the appropriate Category Manager to explore alternative sourcing strategies.
If you have questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Procurement.