Buy Office Supplies

Effective January 18th, 2024-

VCU now has two approved contracted SWaM Certified Office Supply Vendors. They are RGH Enterprises (MBE), a minority-owned business strategically aligned with Staples Business Advantage and The Supply Room Company (TSRC), a local woman owned business (WBE).

RGH and TSRC both have RealSource eCatalogs that can be accessed on the homepage of RealSource. All orders must be placed via the eCatalogs in RealSource.

All departments should purchase general office supplies, including paper and toner from one of the two approved vendors.

Important:

  • The use of a P-Card to purchase office supplies is prohibited.
  • Personal reimbursements for purchases of office supplies are not permitted.
  • Office Supplies are typically not to be purchased through the Amazon e-catalog. Please be sure to reach out to purchasing for an one-time exception to any potential office supply purchase via Amazon.

RGH

RGH has the following representatives dedicated to the VCU account:
Key Account Manager
Gerard Robinson
Office: 410-576-1544
Gerard@rghproducts.com

Customer Service-1-866-648-8349 or via at RGHE@ediversitynetwork.com
To pick supply delivery dates to accommodate a hybrid work environment click here

The Supply Room Company

TSRC has the following representatives dedicated to the VCU account:

Contract Administrator
Dutch Jones
Office: 804-412-2748
djones@thesupplyroom.com

Director of Sales Services
Caron Arkesteyn
804-412-2792 - Desk
carkesteyn@thesupplyroom.com

VCU Customer Service Representative
Margie Brown
Office: 804-412-2778
mbrown@thesupplyroom.com

The following individuals in VCU Procurement Services can assist with questions:

Wendy Rawlins rawlinsw@vcu.edu 

Urgent Needs:

Same-day delivery: Requests may be made under the TSRC contract for same-day delivery. The department must coordinate this directly with TSRC customer service, who will make every effort to make the delivery same-day, though it will not always be possible.

Next-day delivery: RGH provides next-day delivery for orders placed before 3 pm. TSRC provides next-day delivery on orders placed by 5 pm.

Over the counter purchases: In urgent situations requiring same-day delivery which cannot be achieved by TSRC, VCU departments may go to Staples. This is the only brick-and-mortar option that will be permitted for urgent-need office supplies. This option should only be used in circumstances where TSRC cannot meet the department’s delivery deadline. Departments must provide an email confirmation from TSRC stating they cannot meet the same day delivery deadline.

FAQ

I am having trouble accessing RGH's or TSRC’s Punch-Out catalog in RealSource.
You are probably experiencing a browser issue. To fix, you should try to use a different browser. If that does not work, then contact the RealSource HelpDesk at realsource@vcu.edu or please put in Help Ticket at Cherwell IT Support.

I found the same office supply item at a lower price through another office supply vendor. Can I buy it from the other office supply vendor?
Purchasing encourages departments to ask their sales representative for more information regarding the generic brand items and purchase the generic brand whenever possible for further cost savings. RGH and TSRC, when possible, will try to accommodate price matching. If you have questions, please contact Procurement Services.

Do I have to purchase break-room (coffee, candy, paper plates, plastic utensils, etc.) and cleaning supplies through this contract?
The intent in establishing this contract is to cover the purchases of general office supplies. Break-room supplies such as coffee, candy, food, paper plates, plastic utensils, paper towels, napkins, and cleaning supplies may be purchased from RGH or TSRC, or they may be purchased from another source (grocery store, drug store, Wal-Mart, etc.).

Are orders purchased by MCV Foundation a part of this contract?
No. The contract does not apply to orders purchased and paid through MCV Foundation, MCV Physicians, or VCU Health.

Who do I contact for questions regarding the office supply contract and RealSource issues?
For questions regarding the office supply contract, please contact Wendy Rawlins with University Purchasing at rawlinsw@vcu.edu.

For RealSource performance issues, please contact the RealSource Helpdesk at realsource@vcu.edu.

Do I have to purchase furniture from TSRC?
No. Departments may obtain quotes and place orders with any vendor that sells office furniture up to $10,000. Departments are encouraged to seek competitive pricing in the marketplace to manage costs for VCU.

Why was my virgin paper automatically replaced with recycled paper?
RGH/TSRC have been instructed by VCU Purchasing to automatically substitute virgin paper orders with equivalent grade recycled paper (at least 30% recycled content) in order to comply with the VCU requirement to purchase only recycled paper in support of sustainability initiatives.

Do I have to purchase toner through RGH or TSRC?
All toner cartridge purchases should be made through RGH or TSRC.

Are printer repair services included as part of the Office Supply contract?
No. Printer repair services are not included in the Office Supply contract. Departments may use the vendor of their choice within department delegation.

What if RGH or TSRC cannot provide an item?
All departments should purchase general office supplies, which include paper and toner, from RGH or TSRC. Non-general office supplies (software, breakroom supplies, furniture) may be purchased from RGH or TSRC, or they may be purchased from other vendors. Specialty items that are not found in RGH's TSRC’s Punch-Out catalog may be purchased from other vendorsAll paper purchases should be made from RGH or TSRC.

Why aren’t my items being delivered to where I want them?
Please ensure that the “Ship-To” and room information on purchase requisitions accurately reflect where the order needs to be delivered. The “Ship-To” location must be the physical location (address), including the room number and name of the person to whom the delivery should be made once inside the building. Purchasers who order office supplies for multiple delivery locations need to select the appropriate “Ship-to” address for each order. Separate purchase orders need to be made for each delivery location. If items need to be delivered to a location that is not loaded in RealSource, please contact realsource@vcu.edu and request that location be added.

Edit | Last updated: 03/11/2024