Preferred Suppliers
Established vendors and contracts for common VCU purchases. Click any category to see vendor information and ordering instructions.
Effective January 18, 2024. VCU has two approved contracted office supply vendors. All departments must purchase general office supplies, including paper and toner, from one of these two vendors.
Preferred vendors
- RGH Enterprises — strategically aligned with Staples Business Advantage
- The Supply Room Company (TSRC) — a local, state-certified business
How to order
Both vendors have RealSource eCatalogs (Punch-Out) accessible from the RealSource home page. All orders must be placed via the eCatalogs.
What's covered & what's not
Required through RGH or TSRC: general office supplies, paper, toner.
Optional through these vendors (or alternatives): non-general items like software, breakroom/cleaning supplies, furniture. Specialty items not in either eCatalog may be purchased elsewhere.
Urgent needs
- Same-day delivery: available under the TSRC contract — coordinate directly with TSRC customer service. Best effort; not always possible.
- Next-day delivery: RGH delivers next-day for orders placed before 3pm. TSRC delivers next-day for orders placed before 5pm.
- Over-the-counter (last resort): when TSRC cannot deliver same-day, departments may go to Staples. Requires email confirmation from TSRC stating they cannot meet the deadline. Staples is the only brick-and-mortar option permitted.
Account contacts
| RGH — Key Account Manager Gerard Robinson Gerard@rghproducts.com · 410-576-1544 |
RGH — Customer Service RGHE@ediversitynetwork.com · 1-866-648-8349 Pick supply delivery dates → |
| TSRC — Contract Administrator Dutch Jones djones@thesupplyroom.com · 804-412-2748 |
TSRC — Director of Sales Services Caron Arkesteyn carkesteyn@thesupplyroom.com · 804-412-2792 |
| TSRC — VCU Customer Service Margie Brown mbrown@thesupplyroom.com · 804-412-2778 |
VCU Purchasing — Contract questions Wendy Wicker wickerw@vcu.edu |
OnePrint program (recommended path)
All new printers and copiers should be supported through the OnePrint program, which consolidates VCU's networked printers and multifunction print/copy devices (MFDs) under a single vendor (Canon). OnePrint provides streamlined invoicing, service, and management, producing significant cost savings for departments and the university.
- Single-vendor model: streamlined invoicing, service, and management
- Significant cost savings for departments and the university
- VCU has already negotiated favorable pricing — no need to obtain quotes from multiple vendors
- No need to engage a range of vendors via VITA contracts
To get started, complete a brief survey to define your needs, and a Canon representative will be in touch to discuss a solution.
Take the OnePrint survey Visit OnePrint
If buying outside OnePrint
The state VITA contract VA130405 covers five categories — inkjets, multi-function devices (MFDs), high-speed copiers, wide-format printers, and managed print services — across eight contracted vendors. Contract details →
Sales representative contacts
| Canon Frank Giannuzzi fgiannuzzi@csa.canon.com |
Cobb Tom Cavanaugh tcavanaugh@cobbtechnologies.com |
| Daly Diane Gasper-Jones dlg@daly.com |
Lexmark Ben Lewis belewis@lexmark.com |
| Ricoh Amanda Thomas amanda.thomas@ricoh-usa.com |
Sharp Christine Bush bushc@sharpsec.com |
| Virginia Business Systems David Smith dhsmith@vabs.net |
Xerox John Pritchard John.Pritchard@xerox.com |
Furniture purchases follow a flexible model: VCU encourages use of cooperative contracts for established pricing, but departments have multiple sourcing paths depending on the project.
Where to buy
Cooperative contracts (preferred for pricing). Many product lines are available through cooperative contracts. Ask your sales representative whether products are available through a contract and which affords the best pricing.
- VASCUPP — search “furniture” in the contract title block at vascupp.org
- Educational & Institutional (E&I) Cooperative Purchasing — select “Categories” then “Furniture” at eandi.org
- VCE (Virginia Correctional Enterprises) — offers an extensive product line and provides interior design suggestions
- Local furniture dealerships — offer extensive product lines and interior design consultation services
Non-contract furniture. If products aren't available through a contract, sufficient competition exists in the market. Within departmental delegation, obtain more than one quote and negotiate. Each vendor quote should include pricing, delivery and installation time (with “Quick Ship” option if desired), delivery/installation costs, and warranty period.
Interior design consultation
For assistance selecting furniture and identifying vendors, contact FMD Planning & Design. You may also request a consultation through the Facilities Management Project Request form. Services are typically provided for an hourly, pre-negotiated fee.
Creating the purchase order
In RealSource, create a separate line item for each item with applicable quantity and unit price. For large orders, you may use a single declining-balance PO.
VCU may use established FedEx and UPS contracts for express mail and delivery services. These purchases are considered exempt and do not have to be entered in RealSource.
FedEx (NASPO contract)
Contract: NASPO / University of Virginia Master Agreement #MA454. View FedEx pricing. Fuel surcharge is subject to monthly change — view current surcharge.
UPS (state contract)
Contract: E194-103735. View UPS pricing. P-Card can be set to have the weekly UPS invoice billed automatically; a weekly invoice still arrives for reference.
VPL — Inbound Freight Savings Program
Procurement Services has partnered with Vantage Point Logistics (VPL) to reduce shipping costs on VCU purchases from pre-designated vendors. VPL arranges for vendors to send shipments via VCU's FedEx account at contracted rates rather than the vendor's standard higher rates. No changes to ordering procedures or POs are needed; VPL invoices VCU electronically.
The VPL program covers nearly 100 pre-designated vendors, primarily research, lab, and scientific suppliers (A. Daigger, Active Motif, Bio-Serv, Corning, Edwards, Newport, Sarstedt, Stoelting, and many more). For the full vendor list or to add a vendor, contact Procurement Services.
Fuel purchases use state contracts with Mansfield Oil. Multiple Mansfield contracts exist depending on fuel type.
Contract numbers by fuel type
- Voyager Fuel Card: E194-779
- Bulk Fuel: E194-73737
Account contact
VCU Marketing maintains the university's stationery contract. All university and VCU Medical Center stationery products must be purchased through this contract.
How to order
- Visit stationery.vcu.edu
- From the home screen, click on the B&B Printing catalog icon
- Select and create stationery items using the automated catalog
- Submit order back to RealSource — this opens a RealSource shopping cart
- Proceed to Checkout (if you are a RealSource requester or approver) or Assign Cart (if you are a RealSource shopper) as you normally would for RealSource orders
For more information
For RealSource issues, submit an IT Support ticket through RamsCentral.
Updates to come
The preferred supplier program is growing. Additional categories and strategic vendors will be added here as they’re established.
Coming soon
VCU Procurement is actively expanding the preferred supplier program to cover more high-volume categories and strategic vendor relationships. As new contracts and partnerships are finalized, they'll appear here with full ordering instructions.
Have a recommendation for a category or vendor that should be added? Submit a ticket through RamsCentral and the Procurement team will evaluate.
Need help? Submit a ticket through RamsCentral: VCU IT Self Service > Enter IT Portal > Submit a Request > Procurement Services. Open RamsCentral →