Supplier Information

At UPMC, we realize that the relationships we forge with our supplier partners are key to our team’s agility, integrity and ability to meet our patients’ needs. We hope the information contained within this website provides you with the information you need as a supplier partner or potential partner with UPMC.

Overall Direction

The policy of UPMC Supply Chain Management is to obtain the best value for purchased materials, goods, and services while maintaining the highest ethical standards in dealing with external companies. Value includes price, quality, and service. Supply Chain Management, acting on behalf of the UPMC Business, will:

• Act as the facilitator between external suppliers and internal customers
• Lead the process of seeking eligible suppliers, communicating the requirements and soliciting supplier proposals
• Create an environment of competitive alternatives
• Lead the negotiation of price, terms, and conditions, prior to supplier selection and the development of the purchase order or contract

Supply Chain Management employs the following processes to ensure these standards are achieved when dealing with existing and future business partners:

• Strategic Sourcing
• Value Analysis
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Vendor Management
• Vendor Access Practices to UPMC Facilities
• Conflicts of Interest and Interactions between Representatives
• Vendor Responsibilities Under the Deficit Reduction and False Claims Acts

Standard Strategic Sourcing Process

The UPMC Strategic Sourcing Process is a logical method of leveraging best-practice Supply Chain Management tools and techniques in order to continuously achieve the optimal combination of price, quality and service for purchased materials, goods and services. Imbedded within this process are initiatives such as the Supplier Diversity Program and UPMC’s commitment to Sustainability. The UPMC Strategic Sourcing Process is customer-driven, team-based, and dynamic in order to pertain to UPMC’s diverse portfolio of spend categories. The steps in the strategic sourcing process include:

1. Identification of the opportunity and formation of a team of experts and stakeholders
2. Assessment of historic UPMC buying practices
3. Analysis of the financial landscape in order to gain a strategic understanding of the market
4. Determination of the appropriate sourcing strategy
5. Development of the sourcing strategy and invitation to suitable suppliers
6. Negotiation with suppliers and implementation of the final contract
7. Management of the contractual relationship

Value Analysis Program:

The Value Analysis Program is the process by which we examine all new products for potential use within the UPMC Health System. This is done through a well defined, seven step process. The Value Analysis Program convenes clinicians with subject matter expertise, financial analysts, and those with purchasing expertise, in order to make the best-value product and service decisions, and creates efficiencies in every phase of product selection to achieve the ultimate goal of “right product at the best price.” Our Value Analysis Program employs an overarching committee that reviews the initiatives of the product committees. All new products and services must follow this process of review before they are approved for use within the health system. As a part of the SCM strategic plan, we have implemented the Value Analysis Program to our end user groups (Value Analysis Teams). At present, there are approximately 30 VAT groups, organized by specialty. These groups meet regularly to discuss products and services, and products are evaluated with the approval of, and under the direction of the Value Analysis Program.

Mission Statement

The Value Analysis Program, through the Value Analysis Steering Team and Specialty Sub-Committees (Value Analysis Teams) shall ensure the preservation and improvement of the quality of patient care while controlling costs and risks related to the purchase and use of products and services.

Vision Statement

The Value Analysis Program is responsible for directing a clinically focused and user driven, financially responsible product evaluation and selection process.

UPMC believes:

• Clinical outcomes will be weighed against the financial impact as a part of the selection process.
• All products and services must meet the needs of UPMC but will not exceed the needs.
• All products and services currently in use, as well as those being considered for future use, need to be analyzed for their need, cost, utilization and ability to support quality patient care.
• Clinical and end user trials will be utilized where appropriate.
• Product selections must be clinically acceptable (or acceptable to the user in non-clinical situations as well) while providing the optimal Total Cost of Ownership for the system.
• All proposed products will be evaluated for environmental friendliness and impact as a part of the value analysis process.
• Product evaluation and selection will follow a defined process that engages both clinical personnel, physicians, and sourcing personnel from SCM to help ensure the balance between clinical quality concerns and cost effectiveness.
• While this is a clinically based program, its principles and processes are applicable to non-clinical areas as well.

Supplier Relationship Management

At UPMC, we realize that the relationships we forge with our supplier partners are key to our team’s agility, integrity and ability to meet our patients’ needs. We hope the following policies and information will lay the foundation for strong business relationships to develop and prosper between UPMC and our Supplier partners:

Vendor Access Practices to UPMC Facilities

ProTech Compliance is a technology and services company which provides the health care industry and vendors serving the industry, with simple, cost-effective, and reliable technology solutions for managing vendor-client relationships, including the credentialing and certification process, compliance standards, facility security, scheduling, tracking and reporting. For more details contact ProTech Compliance Customer Service at 1-877-710-STAT (7828) or via email to admin@protechcompliance.com

Conflicts of Interest and Interactions between Representatives

It is the policy of UPMC, jointly with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences (SOHS) that clinical decision-making, education, and research activities be free from influence created by improper financial relationships with, or gifts provided by, Industry. For purposes of this policy, “Industry” is defined as all pharmaceutical manufacturers, and biotechnology, medical device, and hospital equipment supply industry entities and their representatives. Learn more about this policy.

Vendor Responsibilities under the Deficit Reduction and False Claims Acts

In accordance with the federal Deficit Reduction Act, UPMC is required to inform vendors about the Federal False Claims Act. UPMC encourages its vendors to read and be familiar with the federal guidelines as they pertain to this important issue. The Deficit Reduction Act also requires UPMC to provide vendors with information about whistle blowing and non-retaliation. As part of its Reporting and Non-Retaliation policy, UPMC prohibits retaliation for reporting instances of wrongdoing, made in good faith. Suspected instances of wrongdoing may be reported through the Compliance Helpline. To help you understand your responsibilities as a vendor of UPMC, please review the excerpt of UPMC's False Claims policy.