Winter weather can create unpredictable travel conditions, from flight delays to limited ground transportation. A little preparation—and knowing what to expect while traveling—can go a long way. Below are updated Winter Travel Tips, organized to help you plan ahead and navigate disruptions while traveling, whether related to an upcoming storm or future winter weather events.
Connection Check In | February Calendar | Word on Tartine | Recognition | Kudos
Connection Check In | Office and Workspaces Updates | Daisy Palma Promotion | Buyer Job Posting | Michael White Spotlight | Supplier Expo Announced | Employee Discounts | UC Travel: Southwest Airlines/Alaska Airlines | Recognize | Kudos to Dean
Last year, the inaugural Supplier Expo event hosted by Anchor Institution Mission Procurement for Staff Resource Day aimed to increase utilization and awareness of existing certified small and local businesses. The event featured face-to-face networking with BearBuy suppliers, and food samples from local caterers. This event was a success with 150 attendees, 13 exhibitors, 20 restaurants, and resounding feedback to do the event again. Please save the date for Wednesday, June 3, to attend 2026 Supplier Expo activities during Staff Resource Days (June 1-5). Call for VolunteersWe are looking for volunteers to get involved with event outreach and day-of coordination. Volunteers will meet once a month as part of the Anchors Away Team to align procurement needs with a mission to sustain and advance the small and local business community.If you would like to get involved with this impactful event, please contact Marliz Copado no later than Wednesday, January 30.
If you need to place an order with a vendor that is not in BearBuy, does not have a contract, and is not offered through distributor catalogs, consider using VWR or Fisher’s third-party purchasing option to simplify the process.Onboarding new vendors or negotiating terms with non-contracted vendors can add additional processing time to requisitions. VWR and Fisher can quote your order and process it quickly—even if the vendor is not listed in their catalogs. Your order may also qualify for existing benefit from these distributors—such as free freight.Directions to utilize third party purchasing are as follows:VWR’s third-party purchasing is available through their MarketSource program. This can be accessed through their punch out catalog. More details here.Fisher also offers third-party purchasing options through their punch out catalog. Learn more here.If you have any questions, you may also contact your local sales representative for each of the distributors.
Supply Chain Management (SCM) has developed a new ordering process in response to the difficulties customers have experienced when placing orders for Neuropixels and other items from Imec, Inc (IMEC). New procurement arrangement for Imec orders (Neuropixels)IMEC and Avantor (VWR) have agreed to collaborate to streamline ordering. UCSF customers can request quotes and place orders for Neuropixels through VWR’s BearBuy punchout, shown below. The attached “Neuropixels Ordering Guide” outlines the process for requesting quotes and placing orders for Neuropixels (or any IMEC product). Background InformationAvantor (VWR) will manage transactions for IMEC orders under the terms of their UC agreement, eliminating the need for exceptional approvals, and will work behind the scenes to act as the Importer of Record and work directly with UC’s customs broker. For any questions, and to submit feedback to further streamline the ordering process for IMEC items please contact [email protected].
January calendar/commemorations | Next onsite week | SCM Spotlight on Philip and Miranda | UCSF "NAVY" Shuttle service | NAEP newsletter | Recognition | Kudos to Dean Shehu
The Greenphire Program achieved a significant financial milestone during its beta phase. With the program now out of beta, we have enhanced the funding model to simplify processes and increase flexibility.
The new HD Supply punch-out is live in BearBuy. The catalog has replaced the hosted catalog and the Home Depot Pro punch-out and provides streamlined access to a broad range of Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) and Janitorial & Sanitation (JanSan) products. You can find the new catalog under the Facilities and Construction section on the BearBuy landing page.Key MRO Products Shoppers Can OrderTools, hardware, and building suppliesElectrical and plumbing materialsHVAC componentsSafety equipment and facility maintenance itemsKey JanSan Products Shoppers Can OrderCleaning chemicals and disinfectantsPaper goods and dispensersWaste collection suppliesFloor care equipment and accessoriesThese additions expand UCSF’s ability to efficiently source essential facilities and maintenance supplies, improving product access, pricing consistency, and order visibility within BearBuy.
UCSF will showcase its commitment to small business partnerships and operational excellence at its second annual Continuous Improvement Fair, December 16, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (with 10 a.m. Early Bird Access) at the Mission Bay Conference Center’s Robertson Auditorium in San Francisco. A key highlight of this year’s fair will be the feature from the Small and Local Business Office’s Small Business Database Synchronization project, which will be showcased during the poster sessions. This innovative initiative represents a significant step forward in streamlining the identification and engagement processes for small businesses across the UCSF enterprise. The poster session will provide opportunities for departments to learn about process improvements and initiatives that can help drive progress toward the small business spending target. Attendees can demonstrate their support for these efforts and explore opportunities to collaborate on meaningful improvements across the UCSF enterprise. The event comes as the University continues working toward its goal of directing 25 percent of procurement spending to small businesses.UCSF closed fiscal year 2025 with 15.8-percent small business spend—significant progress that demonstrates the University’s dedication to supporting small and local suppliers while building a more inclusive supply chain.Register now for the Continuous Improvement Fair and join us to be part of UCSF’s continuous improvement journey and small business partnership expansion.
