Spring is here, signaling a time of transition and, of course, the end of the fiscal year. We all recognize that this is a challenging period for many. The UMass Administration and Finance (A&F) team is dedicated to supporting our faculty, staff, and students, and we have compiled valuable resources, tips, and insights into an informative newsletter.
In the words of UPST Chief Procurement Officer Michael Durkin, "As we face the challenges confronting higher education right now, I am confident that by working together, we will continue to grow and remain strong."
Thank you to our campus partners for your ongoing support and collaboration! Together, we are building a brighter future.
Welcome Message from Michael Durkin
UMass Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) Michael Durkin shares the recent recognition of the National Association of University Systems (NASH) for the successful creation and evolution of the Unified Procurement Service Team at UMass.
“UPST is a true model for Higher Education and together we (UPST and campus stakeholders) will continue to deliver value every day.”
- Michael Durkin, Chief Procurement Officer
This is a disruptive moment for Higher Education, and we, members of the UMass Administration & Finance (A&F) team, want to play our role in supporting our faculty, staff, and students in managing the impact of these macroeconomic changes (federal policy) and their extended implications on our research funding and broader academic activities.
We want to use this opportunity to highlight some services (working collaboratively with you) that may help you navigate these times.
“While we navigate this rapidly changing policy environment at the federal level, I want to assure you that we will continue to do so in ways that stay true to our values as an institution and respect the responsibility we have to our students, faculty, staff, and all members of our campus communities.”
The Unified Procurement Service Team is in a unique position where they collaborate with both our campus colleagues and the suppliers who support operations throughout the UMass system. While our campus departments may engage with suppliers when specific needs arise, UPST continually works with our trusted suppliers by developing and managing these relationships for the entire UMass system. An essential objective of UPST is to connect suppliers that have successfully navigated the UMass bidding and contracting processes with our end users driving continuous collaboration and improvement.
“It is through intentional partnerships that we can move beyond simple transactions with companies and foster positive, engaging relationships that meet the needs, expectations, and financial responsibilities of the UMass system.”
- Brian Girard
As we approach the end of the 2025 fiscal year (FYE), our goal is to ensure that your year-end transactions are completed in a timely and seamless manner. To assist with this, we are publishing important transaction due dates in advance, allowing you ample time to plan and submit your FY25 transactions to UPST and T&E. In addition, departments are advised to avoid unnecessary spending in the final weeks of the fiscal year. We gathered tips from eight different process teams to help!
The Treasurer's Office and the Unified Procurement Services Team (UPST) have been aligning payment strategies with advancements in banking. As part of the UMass Disbursement Strategy, the university has transitioned individual suppliers to Recipient Select Plus (RSP), a payment platform provided by Bank of America.
The transition to RSP reduces risks associated with the collection of sensitive data and payment details, and it enhances the identity verification process.
A crucial aspect of maintaining a fair and policy-compliant procurement system is our competitive procurement process. The first step in this process is to submit a bid/sourcing support request when there is a need in your department or campus. For goods or services that cost $50,000 or more per fiscal year, by policy, UPST's Strategic Sourcing support must be used.
This article details the benefits of the new Sourcing Intake process for campus end users.
All new sourcing or bid support requests are now submitted through our procurement system, BuyWays allowing us to leverage enhanced workflows and greater transparency, bringing efficiency to your sourcing experience.
Jaggaer (BuyWays) eProcurement Enhancements: Bringing Order to the Release/Update Cycle
We have aligned BuyWays updates to ensure that we limit the number of deployments to three (3) times a year in alignment with BuyWays solution provider, Jaggaer Release schedule. During these predefined release schedules, both Jaggaer-dictated and UMass-requested updates will be deployed together.
You spoke, and we listened to you regarding managing BuyWays-related change fatigue.
In July, we will launch the next release of BuyWays/Jaggaer enhancements. We will be reaching out to users in the coming weeks, but please remember that UPST is always available to assist you during this transition
Fiscal Year End may be the hot topic, but we’re highlighting five incredible procurement resources that are available to you year-round. These tools and sessions are designed to make your procurement processes smoother and more efficient - so take advantage of them!
