Information for Vendors

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Services Consortium. We are happy to share information with you regarding the way we work.

Vendors with programs they feel may be of interest to the SSC schools must first approach the SSC staff. The SSC staff meets with vendors, and assesses the impact and potential savings that could be available to SSC member institutions.

The SSC staff then provides overviews of all potential projects to the SSC Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in conjunction with the SSC staff, then determines which projects have the most appeal for the group.

While not all encompassing, significant criteria used to evaluate potential projects include:

Magnitude of the expenditures and potential savings involved. Projects that address substantial current expenditures and provide substantial savings for the schools typically have a higher priority.
Level of disruption necessary to implement the change. Projects that do not impact the educational process and student/faculty activities are desirable.
Ease of implementation/administration. Projects that have a relatively simple installation or change process, and simple on-going management requirements are desirable.
On-going savings to the schools. Projects that provide on-going savings and/or control future cost increases, versus one-time cost savings are desirable.
Project potential. Projects that can be eventually delivered through the SSC to a much broader audience than the six SSC member institutions are desirable.

Potential projects are typically reviewed, evaluated and implemented first among the SSC Member Institutions. If the project is successful, it is then offered to the greater higher education community for additional school participation.

This process allows for timely and in-depth project review by a group of schools that are actively committed to working together to control costs.