This handbook is intended to assist you in ordering the University's standard Steelcase modular office furniture and seating. Included are ordering instructions, University and vendor contact names and numbers, visuals of the most popular Steelcase products and furniture configurations with fabric and finish selections, as well as University discounted rates for budgetary planning purposes. During the past six months, departments who have had little previous experience working with outside printing vendors have asked to have procedures outlined to enable them to plan for their publication needs. Based on histories of similar jobs, reasonable production schedules can be projected. If competitive bidding is required, a requisition and detailed specifications should be submitted to Purchasing three weeks prior to the expected bid opening date.
Adequate time is essential to allow ambiguities in the specifications to be clarified.
Again, experience has proven that production tends to proceed unimpeded if the composition delivered to the vendor matches the original specifications. Even when design, soliciting quotes and issuing a purchase order are done on a rush basis, the vendors cannot always meet the delivery deadlines. Recently several vendors were unwilling to bid on some jobs because they judged the time allotted for production as insufficient. It is unwise to cut corners and try to rush production on a piece that has taken months to design and prepare. Plans are underway to make the printing specifications form and a glossary of printing terms available on the Purchasing Department's home page.