Preferred vendors provide university-wide goods and services through a contracted relationship.  These vendors offers a great deal of value to the university, and in many cases partner in strategic initiatives that extend beyond a typical Business-to-Business relationship. 

Procurement Services regularly promotes preferred vendors to the university community, who are highly encouraged to use these vendors for their purchasing needs. Promotion takes place through a variety of means including web, e-mail newsletters, training programs, meetings with targeted areas and more.

Becoming a Preferred Vendor
DePaul University evaluates vendors based on the value they provide the university.  This value is defined as the highest combination of the following:

• Ability to offer high quality products and services that impact a large percentage of the university community
• Discounted pricing (base price, warranty, shipping)
• Ease of use (ordering, billing, reporting)
• Strategic partnerships (partnerships, scholarships)
• Financial incentives (rebates, signing bonuses)
• Company ownership (e.g. alumni owned, minority owned) and stability
• Billing terms
• Other value-add activities

In most cases, preferred vendors are selected by a bid process or through their membership in the E&I  purchasing co-op.  However, in rare cases Procurement may waive the bid process and negotiate with a single vendor.

if you believe your company is a good fit as a preferred vendor, please send solicitations about your company and its offerings to:

Procurement Services
Attn: Preferred Vendor Solicitation
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
procurement@depaul.edu (Email is the preferred contact method)

Please note that in most cases, Procurement will not negotiate a preferred vendor agreement based off an unsolicited request. However, documents are kept on file until a bid process or other need for that category comes up.

In support of creating a diverse and representative vendor base which reflects DePaul’s commitment to equal opportunity, Procurement Services maintains a listing of minority and women owned businesses that have been utilized in the past as well as instructions on how to search the vendor database.

If your organization is women or minority owned and has done past business with the university, it should be flagged in the system. If you feel you are not or wish to check the status please contact Procurement Services at procurement@depaul.edu.

If your products or services fall into an area outside of Procurement's responsibilities, Procurement will forward materials on to the appropriate department for review. The department will then determine if they wish to follow-up with the vendor directly.

if you believe your company is a good fit as a departmental vendor, please send solicitations about your company and its offerings to:

Procurement Services
Attn: Departmental Vendor Solicitation
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
procurement@depaul.edu (Email is the preferred contact method)

Vendors should not contact departments directly but rather send materials only to Procurement Services.

Procurement Services or Accounts Payable must approve all new suppliers before they are permitted to conduct business with the University. All new suppliers will be required to complete a Vendor Information Form. New suppliers will be approved after all information has been independently verified. The University will not issue purchase orders to new suppliers, nor pay invoices from new suppliers until the New Supplier Authorization Process has been successfully completed.

Suppliers are continuously evaluated on the basis of pricing, service & quality, efficient transaction processing, and the long-term strategic goals of the University. Suppliers that meet and exceed the performance criteria established by Procurement Services will maintain their vendor status. Suppliers that do not meet the performance criteria established by Procurement Services may be placed on probation or banned from conducting business with the University.

Terms and Conditions
To view the university's standard terms and conditions please click here.

Billing and Payment
All invoices should be sent to the Accounts Payable department at:

DePaul University
Accounts Payable - Suite 1900
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604

DePaul's payment policy is Net 30 from receipt of invoice. To check on the status of your payment contact Accounts Payable at (312) 362-5336.

Procurement Services runs the Demon Discounts program, designed for personal purchases. Information for vendors wishing to do business via the Demon Discounts and Demon Express programs can be found at the discounts website.