Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.06
Liaison Allie Schwartz
Submission Date April 14, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Columbia University
OP-17: Guidelines for Business Partners

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 1.00 Michael Fletcher
Executive Director
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

How many of the institution’s business partners are covered by policies, guidelines and/or agreements that require adherence to minimum environmental standards?:
Some

How many of the institution’s business partners are covered by policies, guidelines and/or agreements that require adherence to minimum standards governing employee wages, benefits, working conditions and rights?:
Some

A copy of the policies, guidelines, and/or agreements with the institution's business partners (or a representative sample):
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The policies, guidelines, and/or agreements with the institution's business partners (or a representative sample):

In addition to the Preferred Vendor Status, the University has established University-wide Strategic Partnership Agreements with several large vendors in a few key areas of high-volume goods and services. In turn, these vendors have agreed to utilize local suppliers when possible to improve local sourcing opportunities. The Strategic Vendor Partners (SVP) hold major contracts with the University, and the individual schools and departments are required to order their goods and services from the SVP. These vendors provide goods and/or services such as:

Maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies
Office supplies
The Strategic Vendor Partners require a high capacity level from minority-, women-, and locally-owned (MWL) vendors, but they also provide mentoring and technical assistance to the MWL vendors with which they work.

Getting Started

Every vendor must be validated and approved before providing goods and services to the University. Once approved, vendors become part of our vendor database. The more data we have about our vendors, the easier it is for our purchasers to identify quality, reliable sources who have established a relationship with us.

This information is also vital because the University is a recipient of a substantial amount of federal funds, and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) require us to submit reports about the diversity of our vendor base. Our vendor information also helps further the University's commitment to offer opportunities to local and small minority-owned businesses to provide goods and services to the University.

Potential University vendors should only access the below questionnaire under the following conditions:

Vendor has been requested to complete the questionnaire by University customer
Vendor has been requested to complete the questionnaire by the Vendor Validation group
Vendor has been requested to complete the questionnaire by the University Purchasing Office
Vendor is seeking to qualify for Facilities and construction-related work
If vendor submits under any other premise, their questionnaire will not be reviewed. Additionally, completion of the questionnaire does not commit or guarantee use of the vendor by the University.

The University has a code of conduct for Manufacturing partners, which is also used for licensed vendors:
http://senate.columbia.edu/committees_dan/external/labor.htm


A brief description of programs and strategies institution has implemented to ensure that the guidelines are followed, including a brief description of instances when the guidelines have changed purchasing behavior, if applicable:

Columbia University is a member of the Worker Rights Consortium, Fair Labor Association and has expressed intention to participate in the Designated Suppliers Program.


The website URL where information about the institution’s guidelines for its business partners is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.